Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in St. Paul, Minnesota (July 2026)
In St. Paul, Minnesota as of July 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,592 per week (median $2,000). Based on 1,394 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,999. St. Paul anchors the eastern Twin Cities on I-94 / I-35E, with the closed Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock (commercial barge navigation ended in 2015), 3M manufacturing generating specialty-chemical freight, and retail distribution for the broader metro.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
What CDL drivers are earning across St. Paul, Minnesota
Across active CDL postings in St. Paul, Minnesota 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) | $2,261 | $2,050 | 613 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,549 | $1,500 | 451 |
| Owner Operator | $7,181 | $7,500 | 330 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in St. Paul, Minnesota
9% of St. Paul, Minnesota's active CDL postings are regional and 88% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (3%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of St. Paul, Minnesota postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 86%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 68%.
How St. Paul, Minnesota compares to Minnesota
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where St. Paul, Minnesota differs most from Minnesota — 12% above statewide.
Driving CDL in Minnesota
Minnesota freight moves on the I-35 / I-94 Twin Cities grid and reaches the Great Lakes at Duluth, a significant Lake Superior port. Agricultural exports — soybeans, corn, wheat — drive heavy outbound volume. A significant medical-device manufacturing sector (Medtronic and others) generates high-value freight. Winter is the dominant operational variable: sub-zero stretches affect equipment, idle-time policy, and HOS realism. Minnesota has a high graduated state income tax — among the higher rates in the country. The Twin Cities have unusually-designed truck-restricted bridges; first-time runs should consult routing notes carefully.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in St. Paul, Minnesota
- Best owner-operator companies in St. Paul, Minnesota
- CDL driver salary in Minnesota
How we compile these 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 July 2026.