Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Omaha, Nebraska (November 2026)
$2,578/week — that's the average CDL driver wage in Omaha, Nebraska as of November 2026. Median weekly pay sits at $2,012, computed against active postings in Lanefinder's index. Based on 1,383 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,962. Omaha anchors I-80 on the Missouri River and serves as Union Pacific's national headquarters, with large agricultural commodity volumes of corn, beef, and pork and a dense concentration of insurance and food-distribution logistics.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
Omaha, Nebraska CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Omaha, Nebraska 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) | $2,305 | $2,118 | 637 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,613 | $1,600 | 416 |
| Owner Operator | $7,159 | $7,250 | 330 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Omaha, Nebraska
8% of Omaha, Nebraska's active CDL postings are regional and 91% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Omaha, Nebraska postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 69%.
How Omaha, Nebraska compares to Nebraska
| Omaha, Nebraska | Nebraska | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,578 | $2,363 | +9% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 91% | 85% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Omaha, Nebraska's biggest divergence from Nebraska is on average weekly pay, 9% above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Omaha
Omaha sits on I-80 and serves as Union Pacific Railroad's national headquarters — the rail-truck interchange volume here is enormous. Agricultural commodity freight and consumer goods distribution add to the lane mix. Cost of living is moderate. Winter on I-80 west is one of the more weather-exposed Midwest stretches.
Driving CDL in Nebraska
Nebraska sits on the I-80 transcontinental freight corridor through Omaha, which also serves as Union Pacific Railroad's national headquarters — the rail-to-truck interchange volume is enormous. Agricultural commodity freight — corn, beef, pork — defines the lane structure outside the metros. Cost of living is below the national average. Nebraska has a moderate graduated state income tax (recently phasing down). I-80 west of Lincoln is one of the more weather-exposed stretches in the Midwest — drifting snow and ice are real annual operational variables.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Omaha, Nebraska
- Best owner-operator companies in Omaha, Nebraska
- CDL driver salary in Nebraska
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 November 2026.