Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Missoula, Montana (May 2026)
$3,246/week average, $2,250 median for CDL drivers in Missoula, Montana (May 2026). Based on 1,000 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,026. Montana freight is defined by long haul on the Northern Tier I-90 / I-94 corridors, with agricultural shipments of wheat and cattle, coal export volumes from the Powder River Basin, and oil-field service routes in the Bakken region.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Missoula, Montana differs from the Montana baseline
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Missoula, Montana sits 14% above the Montana baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Missoula, Montana
Across active CDL postings in Missoula, Montana this month, pay varies meaningfully by hiring type. The breakdown below shows the average and median weekly pay for each.
| Hiring type | Avg/wk | Median/wk | Active postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Contractor (1099) | $2,285 | $2,100 | 449 |
| Owner Operator | $7,357 | $7,500 | 281 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,629 | $1,600 | 270 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
What Missoula, Montana drivers actually run
8% of Missoula, Montana's active CDL postings are regional and 91% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Across Missoula, Montana CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 89% take-truck-home, 72% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Montana
Montana freight runs the Northern Tier I-90 / I-94 corridors — long, lightly-trafficked, often beautiful, and operationally serious. Wheat and cattle freight dominate outbound; coal from the Powder River Basin generates significant rail-to-truck transfers. Oil-field service in the eastern Bakken corner of the state adds energy-sector loads. Winter is severe and long. Cost of living is moderate, with the Bozeman and Missoula corridors notably more expensive than the rest of the state. Montana has a moderate graduated state income tax. Distances are real: "long-haul" here means a different scale than the Northeast.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Missoula, Montana
- Best owner-operator companies in Missoula, Montana
- CDL driver salary in Montana
The methodology behind the rankings
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated May 2026.