Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Palm Bay, Florida (May 2026)
In Palm Bay, Florida as of May 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,842 per week (median $2,100). Based on 1,305 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,081. Florida trucking runs on I-95 / I-75 north-south spines and the I-4 Tampa-Orlando-Daytona cross, with Port of Miami and Port of Jacksonville as major gateways alongside heavy citrus and produce agriculture 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.
Where Palm Bay, Florida differs from the Florida baseline
| Palm Bay, Florida | Florida | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,842 | $2,349 | +21% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 89% | 81% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Palm Bay, Florida's biggest divergence from Florida is on average weekly pay, 21% above the state baseline.
Palm Bay, Florida CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Palm Bay, Florida 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) | $2,213 | $2,013 | 627 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,636 | $1,600 | 351 |
| Owner Operator | $7,277 | $7,250 | 327 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
What Palm Bay, Florida drivers actually run
10% of Palm Bay, Florida's active CDL postings are regional and 89% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Palm Bay, Florida postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 69% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Driving CDL in Florida
Florida CDL work splits cleanly between coastal port-and-tourism freight (Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Everglades) and Central Florida last-mile distribution. The hurricane season — June through November — drives both stress and opportunity: insurance rates climb, freight rates spike around storm-recovery windows, and shutdown days are a real income variable. Florida has no state income tax. The traffic on I-95 and I-4 is consistently in the top tier of US congestion, so HOS planning around peak commute windows matters more here than in most states. Reefer and produce work pays well; OTR pulling out of the state is steady year-round.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Palm Bay, Florida
- Best owner-operator companies in Palm Bay, Florida
- CDL driver salary in Florida
Where this data comes from
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.