Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Mount Prospect, Illinois (November 2026)
Mount Prospect, Illinois's CDL drivers earn $2,280 per week on average, $1,900 median, as of November 2026. Based on 1,851 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,108. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
Where Mount Prospect, Illinois differs from the Illinois baseline
| Mount Prospect, Illinois | Illinois | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,280 | $2,020 | +13% |
| Take-truck-home | 84% | 79% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 79% | 71% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Mount Prospect, Illinois's biggest divergence from Illinois is on average weekly pay, 13% above the state baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Mount Prospect, Illinois
Across active CDL postings in Mount Prospect, Illinois 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) | $2,249 | $2,050 | 811 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,517 | $1,500 | 652 |
| Owner Operator | $6,983 | $7,000 | 388 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Mount Prospect, Illinois drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Mount Prospect, Illinois this month, 15% are regional and 79% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 6%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Mount Prospect, Illinois postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 84%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 67% and riders-allowed at 64%.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Mount Prospect, Illinois
- Best owner-operator companies in Mount Prospect, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Illinois
The methodology behind the rankings
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 November 2026.