Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Seattle, Washington (November 2026)
Seattle, Washington's CDL drivers earn $2,849 per week on average, $2,150 median, as of November 2026. Based on 1,069 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,016. Seattle and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (with Tacoma) form a major West Coast container port complex, one of the larger West Coast container port complexes. I-5 and I-90 carry inland freight to Spokane and beyond, with Boeing aerospace manufacturing adding high-value industrial loads.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
Seattle, Washington vs Washington: the numbers that diverge
| Seattle, Washington | Washington | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,849 | $2,579 | +10% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 81% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Seattle, Washington sits 10% above the Washington baseline.
Seattle, Washington CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Seattle, Washington 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) | $2,392 | $2,225 | 485 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,613 | $1,525 | 317 |
| Owner Operator | $7,334 | $7,500 | 267 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Seattle, Washington
Of active CDL postings in Seattle, Washington this month, 9% are regional and 87% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Across Seattle, Washington CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 29% dedicated, 87% take-truck-home, 69% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Seattle
Seattle CDL work runs on I-5 / I-90 / I-405. Port of Seattle / Tacoma drayage (the largest West Coast complex after LA / Long Beach), tech-sector (Amazon, Microsoft Redmond) supply chains, and dense metro distribution drive freight. Cost of living is high; WA has no state income tax. Cascade pass weather affects east-west routing.
Driving CDL in Washington
Washington freight flows through the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — a major West Coast container complex — with I-5 north-south and I-90 east-west carrying forest-products freight, agricultural exports from the Yakima Valley (apples, hops, wine grapes), and technology-sector loads. Mountain passes (Snoqualmie on I-90, Stevens on US-2) are aggressive winter operational variables; chain laws apply liberally from November through March (commercial vehicles must carry chains Nov 1 to Apr 1). Cost of living is high in the Puget Sound metros. Washington has no state income tax — meaningful comp pull for drivers based here.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Seattle, Washington
- Best owner-operator companies in Seattle, Washington
- CDL driver salary in Washington
Where this data comes from
Pay carriers against each other within the same market (30%). Layer a weighted FMCSA SAFER safety percentile on top (25%). Score the benefits package against what actually matters for the hiring type — W2 health/financial benefits or owner-op operational perks (25%). Finish with operational performance: responsiveness to driver applications plus fleet scale (20%). All percentiles are recomputed monthly. Updated November 2026.