Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Montana (May 2026)
CDL pay in Montana averages $2,851/week (median $2,050) through May 2026. Based on 1,233 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,197. 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.
Montana CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in 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) | $2,252 | $2,100 | 521 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,586 | $1,550 | 397 |
| Owner Operator | $7,242 | $7,500 | 315 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
What Montana drivers actually run
The route mix in Montana this month tilts OTR: 9% regional, 88% OTR, 1% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Montana postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 72% and riders-allowed at 70%.
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 Montana
- Best owner-operator companies in Montana
- CDL driver salary in the United States
Where this data comes from
Carriers are scored against carriers in their own market. The composite is 30% compensation (pay + bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement cadence), 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits (W2 vs owner-op scoring), and 20% operational performance (responsiveness + fleet scale). No paid placement — the weights are the same for every carrier in the index. Updated May 2026.