Updated September 2026
CDL Driver Salary in San Antonio, Texas (September 2026)
In San Antonio, Texas as of September 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,557 per week (median $2,000). Based on 1,480 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,932. San Antonio sits at the I-10 / I-35 / I-37 junction, a major crossroads between the US interior and South Texas border crossings, with military base logistics, energy-sector freight, and food and beverage manufacturing.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
San Antonio, Texas vs Texas: the numbers that diverge
| San Antonio, Texas | Texas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,557 | $2,237 | +14% |
| Take-truck-home | 87% | 79% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 70% | 62% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 67% | 59% | +8 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 75% | +12 pt |
| Local routes | 1% | 7% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: San Antonio, Texas sits 14% above the Texas baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in San Antonio, Texas
Across active CDL postings in San Antonio, Texas 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) | $2,252 | $2,050 | 673 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,628 | $1,600 | 458 |
| Owner Operator | $7,177 | $7,500 | 349 |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
What San Antonio, Texas drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in San Antonio, Texas this month, 11% are regional and 87% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of San Antonio, Texas postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Driving CDL in Texas
Texas is the largest CDL market in the country and the deepest mix of lane types. Cross-border work out of Laredo and El Paso, oil-field service in the Permian Basin, dedicated retail out of Dallas and Houston, and reefer pulling produce out of the Rio Grande Valley all run from different parts of the state — and they pay very differently. Texas has favorable trucking regulations and no state income tax, which is real money on the back end. The summer heat is the operational variable most newcomers underestimate; equipment, hours, and load-securing all behave differently when ambient temps hit 110°F.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in San Antonio, Texas
- Best owner-operator companies in San Antonio, Texas
- CDL driver salary in Texas
The methodology behind the rankings
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated September 2026.