Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Passaic, New Jersey (November 2026)
$2,610/week average, $2,006 median for CDL drivers in Passaic, New Jersey (November 2026). Based on 1,398 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,979. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
What changed in November 2026
- average sign-on bonus rose by 1.5% ($1,950 → $1,979).
Where Passaic, New Jersey differs from the New Jersey baseline
| Passaic, New Jersey | New Jersey | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,610 | $2,323 | +12% |
| Take-truck-home | 83% | 78% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 66% | 61% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 83% | 74% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Passaic, New Jersey sits 12% above the New Jersey baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Passaic, New Jersey
Across active CDL postings in Passaic, New Jersey 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) | $2,297 | $2,125 | 653 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,595 | $1,550 | 427 |
| Owner Operator | $7,298 | $7,500 | 318 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Passaic, New Jersey drivers actually run
12% of Passaic, New Jersey's active CDL postings are regional and 83% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (5%).
Across Passaic, New Jersey CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 31% dedicated, 83% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is a major CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge and tunnel tolls, truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (trucks over 10,000 lb are barred north of Exit 105), and limits on certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. Traffic around Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge (I-95) is among the worst in the country.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Passaic, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in Passaic, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in New Jersey
The methodology behind the rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated November 2026.