Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Omaha, Nebraska (May 2026)
$2,697/week — that's the average CDL driver wage in Omaha, Nebraska as of May 2026. Median weekly pay sits at $2,000, computed against active postings in Lanefinder's index. Based on 1,357 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,092. 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 May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Omaha, Nebraska compares to Nebraska
| Omaha, Nebraska | Nebraska | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,697 | $2,452 | +10% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 90% | 85% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Omaha, Nebraska's biggest divergence from Nebraska is on average weekly pay, 10% above the state baseline.
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) | $2,241 | $2,050 | 603 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,606 | $1,600 | 413 |
| Owner Operator | $7,160 | $7,125 | 341 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Omaha, Nebraska
8% of Omaha, Nebraska's active CDL postings are regional and 90% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Omaha, Nebraska postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 72% and riders-allowed at 70%.
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 among the lowest in the country. 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 May 2026.