Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Sugar Land, Texas (November 2026)
Sugar Land, Texas's CDL drivers earn $2,597 per week on average, $2,000 median, as of November 2026. Based on 1,586 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,871. Texas freight moves on I-10 / I-35 / I-20 corridors connecting Gulf Coast energy and Port of Houston to border crossings at Laredo and El Paso — two of the busiest US-Mexico commercial crossings — and large retail and manufacturing distribution inland.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
Where Sugar Land, Texas differs from the Texas baseline
| Sugar Land, Texas | Texas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,597 | $2,190 | +19% |
| Take-truck-home | 86% | 78% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 68% | 62% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 65% | 59% | +6 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 85% | 76% | +9 pt |
| Local routes | 2% | 7% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Sugar Land, Texas sits 19% above the Texas baseline.
Sugar Land, Texas CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Sugar Land, 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) | $2,253 | $2,062 | 718 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,600 | $1,527 | 502 |
| Owner Operator | $7,079 | $7,000 | 366 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Sugar Land, Texas
Of active CDL postings in Sugar Land, Texas this month, 12% are regional and 85% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Across Sugar Land, Texas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 86% take-truck-home, 68% pet-friendly, 65% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Texas
Texas is one of the largest CDL markets 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 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 Sugar Land, Texas
- Best owner-operator companies in Sugar Land, Texas
- CDL driver salary in Texas
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.