Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Tacoma, Washington (November 2026)
Tacoma, Washington CDL drivers: $2,862 average weekly pay, $2,175 median (November 2026). Based on 1,069 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,999. Tacoma co-anchors the Northwest Seaport Alliance with Seattle, handling containers and bulk cargo, with the Port of Tacoma's deep-water facilities and I-5 / SR-509 / SR-167 corridors connecting to regional distribution and I-90 inland routes.
What changed in November 2026
- median weekly pay rose by 1.2% ($2,150 → $2,175).
Tacoma, Washington vs Washington: the numbers that diverge
| Tacoma, Washington | Washington | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,862 | $2,579 | +11% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 81% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Tacoma, Washington's biggest divergence from Washington is on average weekly pay, 11% above the state baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Tacoma, Washington
Across active CDL postings in Tacoma, 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) | $2,394 | $2,225 | 485 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,615 | $1,525 | 315 |
| Owner Operator | $7,321 | $7,500 | 269 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Tacoma, Washington drivers actually run
10% of Tacoma, Washington's active CDL postings are regional and 87% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (3%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Tacoma, Washington postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 69% and riders-allowed at 66%.
Driving CDL in Tacoma
Tacoma sits south of Seattle on I-5 / I-705. Port of Tacoma is part of the largest West Coast container complex after LA / Long Beach; drayage and intermodal connections are dominant. Joint Base Lewis-McChord military logistics adds volume. Cost of living is moderate. 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 Tacoma, Washington
- Best owner-operator companies in Tacoma, Washington
- CDL driver salary in Washington
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated November 2026.