how much do truck drivers make in california

June 27, 2026

Truck drivers in California typically make around the mid‑$50,000s per year, with a broad range from roughly $40,000 for lower‑paid roles up to $80,000+ for top earners, depending on experience, route, and type of trucking.

Typical pay in California

Average general truck driver pay is about $55,000–$60,000 per year, or around $26–$28 per hour.

Many jobs fall between $39,000 and $65,000 annually (roughly the 25th–75th percentile range).

In large cities like Los Angeles, average pay is around $57,000 per year , with common ranges from low $40,000s up to mid‑$70,000s.

CDL Class A drivers (often long‑haul or heavier loads) average about $57,000+ per year statewide, with many offers listing higher hourly rates than generic “truck driver” roles.

High and low ends

Lower‑paying roles (entry‑level, lighter local work) can be in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s per year.

Experienced or specialized drivers, especially with overtime or premium routes, can reach $70,000–$80,000+ , with some postings and top earners above that.

Some public‑sector or niche positions in California list six‑figure averages, but those tend to be outliers tied to specific agencies, seniority, and strong benefits packages.

What affects how much you make

Type of work: Long‑haul, tanker, hazmat, and specialized freight usually pay more than basic local delivery.
Location: Bay Area and some SoCal metros tend to pay more in absolute dollars, partly offset by higher cost of living.

Pay structure: Hourly plus overtime vs. per‑mile or per‑load dramatically changes real earnings; port and drayage work in Los Angeles often draws forum complaints when it is not hourly.

A common sentiment in trucker forums is that if you’re doing port work in Southern California and not getting paid hourly, you may end up underpaid for the time you actually spend waiting and working.

Quick example

Imagine a new CDL‑A driver in Los Angeles starting around $25/hour for 45 hours a week (with some overtime).
That comes out to roughly $55,000–$60,000 per year , which sits right in the current California average range.

TL;DR: Most truck drivers in California today make around $55,000–$60,000 a year , with many starting in the $40,000s and experienced/specialized drivers often landing in the $70,000+ range.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.