Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Temple, Texas (May 2026)
CDL drivers in Temple, Texas earn $2,637 per week on average through May 2026. The median is $2,000, drawn from active job postings rather than survey self-reports. Based on 1,493 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,004. 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 May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Temple, Texas vs Texas: the numbers that diverge
| Temple, Texas | Texas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,637 | $2,223 | +19% |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 79% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 63% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 68% | 60% | +8 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 75% | +12 pt |
| Local routes | 1% | 7% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Temple, Texas sits 19% above the Texas baseline.
Temple, Texas CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Temple, 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) | $2,222 | $2,000 | 670 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,619 | $1,582 | 462 |
| Owner Operator | $7,167 | $7,000 | 361 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
What Temple, Texas drivers actually run
The route mix in Temple, Texas this month tilts OTR: 11% regional, 87% OTR, 1% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Temple, Texas postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Driving CDL in Texas
Texas is the largest CDL market 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 favorable trucking regulations and 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 Temple, Texas
- Best owner-operator companies in Temple, Texas
- CDL driver salary in Texas
Where this data comes from
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.