Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Oak Lawn, Illinois (May 2026)
Oak Lawn, Illinois, May 2026: CDL drivers average $2,323/week (median $1,850). Based on 1,853 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,208. 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 May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Oak Lawn, Illinois compares to Illinois
| Oak Lawn, Illinois | Illinois | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,323 | $2,055 | +13% |
| Take-truck-home | 85% | 80% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 79% | 71% | +8 pt |
| Regional routes | 14% | 19% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Oak Lawn, Illinois differs most from Illinois — 13% above statewide.
How CDL pay breaks down in Oak Lawn, Illinois
Across active CDL postings in Oak Lawn, 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) | $2,198 | $2,000 | 782 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,502 | $1,450 | 665 |
| Owner Operator | $6,997 | $7,000 | 406 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Oak Lawn, Illinois
14% of Oak Lawn, Illinois's active CDL postings are regional and 79% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (7%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Oak Lawn, Illinois postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 85%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 65%.
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 Oak Lawn, Illinois
- Best owner-operator companies in Oak Lawn, 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 May 2026.