Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Oak Park, Illinois (November 2026)
Oak Park, Illinois CDL drivers average $2,279 per week, median $1,900, as of November 2026. Pay varies meaningfully by hiring type — the breakdown by W2, owner-op, and 1099 is below. Based on 1,872 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,096. 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 Oak Park, Illinois differs from the Illinois baseline
| Oak Park, Illinois | Illinois | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,279 | $2,020 | +13% |
| Take-truck-home | 84% | 79% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 79% | 71% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Oak Park, Illinois sits 13% above the Illinois baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Oak Park, Illinois
Across active CDL postings in Oak Park, 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) | $2,244 | $2,050 | 823 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,520 | $1,500 | 660 |
| Owner Operator | $7,021 | $7,000 | 389 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Oak Park, Illinois drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Oak Park, 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 3% of Oak Park, 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 Oak Park, Illinois
- Best owner-operator companies in Oak Park, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Illinois
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated November 2026.