Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Union City, New Jersey (November 2026)
In Union City, New Jersey as of November 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,611 per week (median $2,000). Based on 1,412 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,977. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
What changed in November 2026
- average sign-on bonus rose by 1.5% ($1,948 → $1,977).
How Union City, New Jersey compares to New Jersey
| Union City, New Jersey | New Jersey | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,611 | $2,323 | +12% |
| Take-truck-home | 83% | 78% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 66% | 61% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 82% | 74% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Union City, New Jersey's biggest divergence from New Jersey is on average weekly pay, 12% above the state baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Union City, New Jersey
Across active CDL postings in Union City, New Jersey 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) | $2,296 | $2,137 | 656 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,595 | $1,550 | 432 |
| Owner Operator | $7,249 | $7,500 | 324 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Union City, New Jersey
Of active CDL postings in Union City, New Jersey this month, 12% are regional and 82% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 6%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Union City, New Jersey postings; dedicated routes at 31%; take-truck-home at 83%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 66% and riders-allowed at 64%.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is a major CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge and tunnel tolls, truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (trucks over 10,000 lb are barred north of Exit 105), and limits on certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. Traffic around Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge (I-95) is among the worst in the country.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Union City, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in Union City, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in New Jersey
The methodology behind the rankings
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 November 2026.