Trucking and Logistics Pay Ladder: Delivery Driver to CDL Driver to Logistician
Moving goods is one of the biggest employers in the country, and it has a clear pay ladder from van routes to long-haul driving to planning freight from an office. Here are the steps in the May 2025 federal data.
The pay ladder at a glance
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Typical entry education | Projected growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery (light truck) driver | 983,300 | $30,800 | $44,860 | $80,310 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.3% |
| Tractor-trailer (CDL) driver | 2,062,040 | $40,140 | $58,640 | $79,380 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.8% |
| Transportation supervisor | 623,640 | $43,360 | $62,890 | $96,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.0% |
| Logistician | 251,040 | $50,890 | $82,320 | $133,160 | Bachelor's degree | +17.6% |
Wages are May 2025 estimates from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; growth and education from BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. The 10th and 90th percentiles show the range from entry-level or lower-paying employers to the most experienced or best-paid workers. For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980.
Delivery driver to CDL driver
Light truck (delivery) drivers earn a median of $44,860; heavy and tractor-trailer drivers earn $58,640, with 2,062,040 jobs nationally. The BLS Handbook says tractor-trailer drivers must hold a commercial driver’s license and many attend a professional truck-driving school.
Driver to supervisor
First-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving workers earn $62,890. Dispatchers and lead drivers who know hours-of-service rules, routing and safety compliance are the usual candidates.
Into logistics
Logisticians earn a median of $82,320 and are projected to grow 17.6% from 2025 to 2035. BLS says a bachelor’s degree is typical, but that work experience can sometimes substitute for education, which makes it a realistic move for experienced drivers and dispatchers.
Where tractor-trailer (cdl) drivers earn the most
State medians for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers vary widely. The five highest-paying states in the May 2025 survey:
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $70,100 | 3,420 |
| Washington | $64,760 | 40,530 |
| District of Columbia | $64,170 | 830 |
| New Jersey | $63,570 | 47,980 |
| Massachusetts | $63,030 | 30,890 |
Pay tips for drivers
- Compare total pay, not cents per mile. Ask about detention pay, layover pay and guaranteed minimums.
- Industry matters. In the May 2025 data, tractor-trailer drivers employed by utilities had a median of $65,810, versus $60,030 in the transportation and warehousing sector, where most for-hire carriers sit. The BLS occupation page linked in the table lists pay by industry.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
If you're getting your first CDL: since February 7, 2022, FMCSA requires most new Class A and Class B applicants to complete entry-level driver training from a provider listed on its Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test. Check that a school is on the registry before you pay tuition: FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training.