Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Syracuse, New York (May 2026)
In Syracuse, New York as of May 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,964 per week (median $2,100). Based on 1,246 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,011. New York freight is anchored by the Port of New York and New Jersey complex, the busiest on the East Coast, with I-87 / I-95 truck corridors and dense last-mile delivery demand across the New York City metro.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Syracuse, New York differs from the New York baseline
| Syracuse, New York | New York | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,964 | $2,268 | +31% |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 78% | +10 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 70% | 62% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 67% | 60% | +7 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 73% | +14 pt |
| Local routes | 0% | 8% | -8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Syracuse, New York's biggest divergence from New York is on average weekly pay, 31% above the state baseline.
What CDL drivers are earning across Syracuse, New York
Across active CDL postings in Syracuse, New York 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) | $2,249 | $2,050 | 568 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,610 | $1,550 | 359 |
| Owner Operator | $7,361 | $7,500 | 319 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Syracuse, New York
The route mix in Syracuse, New York this month tilts OTR: 11% regional, 87% OTR, 0% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Syracuse, New York CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 88% take-truck-home, 70% pet-friendly, 67% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in New York
New York CDL work is mostly upstate or NYC-metro last-mile — almost no through-driver wants to deal with the Five Boroughs more than necessary. The patchwork of bridge tolls (MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Port Authority, Thruway Authority), the truck-route restrictions in Manhattan and on the parkways, and the weight-on-bridge rules add real planning overhead. Long Island delivery work pays a premium for drivers who can actually navigate it. Upstate freight on I-90 / I-87 looks much more like normal interstate driving, with the addition of real winter — lake-effect snow off Erie and Ontario can shut runs down. State income tax is high; many drivers based here run out-of-state lanes to keep the math working.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Syracuse, New York
- Best owner-operator companies in Syracuse, New York
- CDL driver salary in New York
How we compile these rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated May 2026.