Average Truck Driver Salary In California And Top Paying Trucking Companies
Once you have qualified to become a licensed truck driver, you CAN start applying for jobs in your STATE. There are, however, a few factors that will determine the type of jobs you CAN apply for, which will be contingent upon the type of trucking license you have obtained, endorsements you have, and of course, the experience you have gained throughout the years. These same FACTORS will also determine your SALARY RANGE and benefits too. However, another IMPORTANT factor that will determine your salary will be the STATE you are working in. Some STATE’s pay a higher wage than others while providing GREATER benefits. The difference in trucking salaries amongst STATE’s CAN be attributed to policy, the competition to attract the BEST drivers, and employers recognizing the level of education, knowledge, skill, and experience needed to perform each job. With that said,
In this overview, we will be exploring the average truck driver salary in California, focusing on the MAJOR cities, how the average salary changes with experience, the difference in PAY in different industries, and some of the BEST trucking companies to work for in California.
Table of Contents
Average Truck Divers Salary in California
Summary of Average Salary By Cities In California
Average Truck Driver Salary in Los Angeles
Average Truck Driver Salary in Sacramento
Average Truck Driver Salary in San Francisco
Average Truck Driver Salary in San Diego
Average Truck Driver Salary in San Jose
Average Truck Driver Salary in Oakland
Average Truck Driver Salary in Fresno
Average Truck Driver Salary in Santa Barbara
Best Trucking Companies to Work For In California
Search Truck Driver Jobs In California
Additional Resources
Average Truck Divers Salary in California
When we combine all truck drivers with experience ranging from 1 – 10+ years, the AVERAGE truck driver SALARY in California is $63,436 per year, with the average hourly pay being $22.75.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
With that said,
It is IMPORTANT to note that you will enjoy a higher salary with GREATER benefits as you GAIN experience throughout the years. The AVERAGE salary you receive will also depend on the companies you work for, and the time you spend with them.
For more information, please view BEST trucking companies to work for in California.
In addition,
There are a few factors that will DIRECTLY influence the AVERAGE truck driver salary in California. For example, as a truck driver, if you are looking to grow in the industry and EARN a higher SALARY, you need to GAIN as much experience in the industry as possible. Through experience, you will GAIN the knowledge and skills that higher-paying trucking companies are looking for in a candidate. For example, the AVERAGE pay for someone with less than one (1) year of truck driving experience is $64,259. However, the AVERAGE salary jumps from $64,259 to $73,068 once you GAIN 5+ years of experience in the trucking industry. As you will learn later, your annual SALARY can significantly be higher depending on your employer, bonuses, and commission.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Summary of Average Salary By Cities In California
In the table below, we have listed the AVERAGE SALARY of truck drivers in some major cities in the STATE of California. Oakland is currently the highest paying city, with the AVERAGE salary being $71,809.
You can click “VIEW MORE” on each city in the table to jump to the appropriate section in this article, where you will find a detailed overview of SALARY and related BENEFITS.
| RANK | CITY NAME | AVERAGE SALARY | MORE INFO |
| 1 | Oakland | $71,809 | VIEW NOW |
| 2 | San Jose | $71,280 | VIEW NOW |
| 3 | Sacramento | $69,228 | VIEW NOW |
| 4 | San Francisco | $67,248 | VIEW NOW |
| 5 | Santa Barbara | $64,886 | VIEW NOW |
| 6 | Fresno | $62,291 | VIEW NOW |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $60,917 | VIEW NOW |
| 8 | San Diego | $58,253 | VIEW NOW |
Average Truck Driver Salary in Los Angeles
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in Los Angeles is $60,917 per year, with the average hourly pay being $20.25.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in San Francisco
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in San Francisco is $67,248 per year, with the average hourly pay being $22.36.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in Sacramento
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in Sacramento is $69,228 per year, with the average hourly pay being $23.01.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in San Diego
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in San Diego is $58,258 per year, with the average hourly pay being $19.37.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in San Jose
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in San Jose is $71,280 per year, with the average hourly pay being $23.70.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in Fresno
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in Fresno is $62,291 per year, with the average hourly pay being $20.71.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in Oakland
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in Oakland is $71,803 per year, with the average hourly pay being $23.87.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
Average Truck Driver Salary in Santa Barbara
The AVERAGE truck driver salary in Santa Barbara is $64,886 per year, with the average hourly pay being $21.57.
Figures are reflective as of October 2020 (Indeed.com)
7 Best Trucking Companies to Work For In California
Once you have become FULLY licensed as a truck driver, you CAN start applying for trucking jobs in California. To help guide you in the RIGHT direction, we have listed the TOP 7 highest paying trucking companies to work for in California. However, we recommend doing your own research by asking fellow truck drivers about some of the trucking companies they have worked for or are CURRENTLY working with. This information WILL help guide your job search and provide you with insight into the type of SALARY to expect, the benefits, progressive opportunities in the company, and more. With that said,
Let’s explore the TOP trucking companies in California based on ratings left by you (the truck drivers) on Indeed.com. Click on the company name to view the OVERALL SNAPSHOT.
1) XPO Logistics
XPO currently has 1,506 locations all over the world, specializing in logistics and transportation. It is one of the BEST trucking companies to work for in California because of the competitive SALARIES, benefits, and progressive opportunities it provides for its employees. The company currently employs 96,000 employees. Truck drivers can make an AVERAGE of $1,024 per; however, with more experience on the road, you WILL enjoy a higher salary with added benefits. With that said, XPO Logistics has enormous room for growth because they recently launched a new job advancement program for employees, “Grow at XPO“. As you climb up the ladder, you WILL develop your knowledge and skills and CAN transition into other roles, i.e. center manager with an AVERAGE salary of $101,677 per year.
2) Pacific Tank Lines
Pacific Tank Lines operates in some of the MOST popular cities in California like San Diego, Fresno, Bakersfield, Long Beach, and more. If you plan to become a truck driver in California or already have your commercial driver’s license (CDL), Pacific Tank Lines is a company to keep your eye on. They are known to provide GREAT compensation, benefits, and room for growth within the company. The company operates mainly by transporting petroleum for most major oil companies in California and Nevada. As a truck driver, you CAN earn an AVERAGE of $29.93 per hour, and a tanker driver $70,041 per year with benefits, bonuses, and more.
3) FedEx Ground
FedEx operates all over the world, with one of its main hubs in California. FedEx offers a wide range of services from logistics, transport, brokerage, digital print, and more. All of these various services offered by FedEx means employees have room for growth within the company. As a truck driver working at FedEx, you will enjoy competitive pay, benefits, growth opportunities, and a place where innovation gives you a chance to make your ideas a reality. A FedEx truck driver salary in California is AVERAGING around $81,564 per year. Once you transition into other roles, you can EXPECT a higher SALARY with more excellent benefits.
4) Marten Transport
At Marten Transport, you have the opportunity to not only grow as a truck driver but also transition into progressive jobs that provide you with greater responsibilities. These opportunities often lead to more competitive pay and benefits. Marten is a premier supplier of time and temperature-sensitive transportation services with routes in 48 states, Canada and Mexico. Marten Transport has a central hub in California ideal for those truck drivers interested in working with one of the BEST trucking companies in California. As a truck driver, you can expect an AVERAGE salary of $1,106 per week. As you progress through the company into other roles, you can expect a significant SALARY increase. For example, owner-operators drivers ($119,953 per year), installation & maintenance technicians ($20.00-$24.00 per hour), etc.
5) Matheson Companies
Matheson is a leading transport company in the United States. They are responsible for providing logistics and delivery services for the United States Postal Service. Two other transport services include regional trucking and aircraft ground support. Once you have OBTAINED your trucking license in California, you can apply to Matheson’s trucking division that focuses on short-haul driving and long-haul routes across the United States. This company does have major hubs throughout California, which is PERFECT for any individual living in major cities like Sacramento, Anaheim, Fresno, and more. Currently, truck drivers working for Matheson have an AVERAGE hourly rate of $27.60 per hour. You can also transition into other roles, such as a Diesel Mechanic with an hourly rate of $31.10.
6) Sysco
With over 4,000+ reviews on Indeed.com, Sysco definitely belongs on our list of top trucking companies to work for in California. The AVERAGE salary for truck drivers working for Sysco is $84,879 per year (15% higher than the NATIONAL average). Sysco provides a wide range of services, mainly selling, marketing, and distributing food products to healthcare facilities, restaurants, and educational facilities. Today, Sysco serves more than 625,000 customer locations, which means they have a huge demand for truck drivers all over the United States. Sysco is such a large company that as an employee, you have room to progress throughout the company into higher positions that will pay a better SALARY and PROVIDE more extensive benefits.
7) Old Dominion Freight Line
Old Dominion Freight is listed on our OVERALL BEST trucking companies to work for, so Old Dominion Freight is definitely a place you should apply to when starting your career as a truck driver. This company offers services in container drayage, truckload brokerage, and supply chain consulting. Old Dominion has locations all over the United States with major hubs in Calfornia (Bakersfield, Anaheim, San Deigo, Fresno, etc.). Truck drivers working for Old Dominion have an AVERAGE salary of $82,700 per year (12% higher than the NATIONAL average). This company also offers fantastic benefits to its employees like a retirement plan, wellness program, paid time off, disability, vision, and dental insurance.
Search Truck Driver Jobs In California
Final Thoughts
With an AVERAGE truck driver salary in California of $69,000, becoming a truck driver CAN be a very lucrative career in the long-term. Many of the BEST trucking companies in California listed above (add link) offer extensive transport/logistic services to their customers, so need experienced truck drivers to fill job roles in the company to cater to their expanding customer base. These same companies offer transitional opportunities that not only provide truck drivers with the knowledge and skills they need to excel, but come with HIGHER salaries and GREATER benefits too. With that said,
When you become a truck driver, we recommend taking your time to research the TOP trucking companies in California. Before applying to these companies, it’s important to think about what’s essential to you regarding salary, benefits, flexibility, mobility, etc. For example, if you have a growing family, then choose a company that offers a GREAT salary and a benefits plan that will cover your family too. Furthermore, if you plan to start out as a truck driver and transition into other job roles in the industry, then opting for a trucking company that’s large enough to offer progressive career opportunities would be the SMARTEST option. In the end, the decision you make should be based on what’s BEST for you.
Additional Resources
20 Best Trucking Companies To Work For Right Now
12 Common Truck Driver Interview Questions And Answers
How to Become a Truck Driver – A Complete Guide
19 Best Bluetooth Headsets For Truckers
9 Best GPS For Truck Drivers