Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in St. Paul, Minnesota (November 2026)
In St. Paul, Minnesota as of November 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,601 per week (median $2,000). Based on 1,433 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,987. 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 November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
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) | $2,342 | $2,150 | 647 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,553 | $1,500 | 455 |
| Owner Operator | $7,191 | $7,500 | 331 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 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 1% of St. Paul, Minnesota postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 86%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% 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 St. Paul
St. Paul shares the Twin Cities metro with Minneapolis. State government supply chains, manufacturing (3M HQ in nearby Maplewood), and metro distribution drive freight. Winter weather is the dominant operational variable; truck-restricted bridges in the metro require routing knowledge. Cost of living is moderate.
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. First-time Twin Cities runs should check truck-route restrictions 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 November 2026.