New Jersey · BLS OEWS May 2025
CDL Truck Driver salary in New Jersey: $63,570 median, no degree required
Fastest door in this entire site: CDL school runs three to seven weeks, around $5,000, and carriers frequently pay it for you. Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in New Jersey earn a median $63,570, with experienced and specialized drivers (tanker, hazmat, owner-operators) well past $90,310. I will give it to you straight, the way this site always does: the money is real and so are the tradeoffs, because over-the-road life means time away from home, and local routes trade some pay for sleeping in your own bed. Our model puts a New Jersey driver $328,662 ahead of the average college path at year 10, and you are earning within two months, not two years.
Reviewed by Brad Zemke, third-generation tradesman, 20+ years in the field.
CDL Truck Driver pay in New Jersey
BLS OEWS May 2025 · 47,980 employed
| Wage level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $47,950 | $23.05/hr |
| 25th percentile | $57,400 | $27.60/hr |
| Median wage | $63,570 | $30.56/hr |
| 75th percentile | $76,450 | $36.75/hr |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $90,310 | $43.42/hr |
The 10-year picture
CDL Truck Driver vs college in New Jersey
- CDL Truck Driver, 10 years in
- $650,103
- cumulative earnings minus training costs
- College path, 10 years in
- $321,441
- avg degree, $37,850 debt, $11,568 interest paid
- Head start
- $328,662
- trade path is in the black by year 1; college by year 6
Cumulative earnings net of education costs and loan interest; taxes and living costs excluded from both paths. Full math and sources on the methodology page.
The apprenticeship
How you get in
Three routes in New Jersey: a private CDL school (3-7 weeks), a carrier's paid training program (free or reimbursed in exchange for a commitment, read that contract carefully), or a community college program that WIOA frequently covers. You are at near-full pay within the first year; the ramp is the shortest in the trades.
Training cost in our model: $5,000. First-year pay near $57,213.
Licensing
What NJ requires
The Commercial Driver's License is a federal-standard credential issued by New Jersey; Class A covers tractor-trailers. Endorsements (tanker, hazmat, doubles) each raise your rate, and a clean driving record is worth actual money every year you keep it.
FAQ
CDL Truck Driver questions, answered straight
How much do CDL truck drivers make in New Jersey?
The median cdl truck driver wage in New Jersey is $63,570 a year ($30.56/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The top 10% earn $90,310 or more. Entry-level pay starts around $47,950.
Is becoming a cdl truck driver worth it compared to college in New Jersey?
On the 10-year math, yes. Our model puts a New Jersey cdl truck driver at $650,103 in cumulative net earnings after 10 years, versus $321,441 for the average bachelor's path. That is a $328,662 head start, mostly because you earn while you train instead of paying tuition for four years.
How many CDL truck drivers work in New Jersey?
BLS counts 47,980 employed CDL truck drivers in New Jersey as of the May 2025 OEWS survey.
Is trucking worth it with the lifestyle tradeoffs?
Depends entirely on the route type. Over-the-road pays most and costs the most family time; regional and local flip that trade. The honest move is deciding what your time is worth first and picking the route type second. The math on this page is the money side only.
Should I do carrier-paid CDL training?
It removes the upfront cost, but read the commitment contract like a lawyer: leaving early usually means owing tuition back. If WIOA will cover a community college CDL program instead, you get the license with no strings. Check that door first.
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Same trade, top pay
Other trades in New Jersey
- Electrician $77,250
- Plumber $78,240
- HVAC Technician $74,450
- Welder $59,440
- Carpenter $64,010
- Diesel Mechanic $72,340
- Elevator Installer $137,920
- Lineworker $121,580
- Wind Turbine Technician $64,120
- Auto Mechanic $56,610
- Aircraft Mechanic $105,370
- Heavy Equipment Operator $89,660
CDL truck drivers next door
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 53-3032, 47,980 employed in New Jersey. ROI model assumptions and sources: methodology.