"How long does cdl truck driver in Alaska training take?"

"Most paths into the cdl truck driver field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for cdl truck drivers in Alaska?"

"In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A CDL Truck Driver in Alaska

Q: "How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Alaska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $70,100. Employment concentration in Alaska is roughly 0.79 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do cdl truck drivers need a license in Alaska?"

"Yes. Alaska requires state-level licensing or registration for cdl truck drivers, administered by the Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Alaska?"

"Alaska currently employs approximately 3,420 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $70,100 ($33.70/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,420 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 19.5% above the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $70,100 ($33.70/hr)
25th percentile: $60,500 per year
75th percentile: $78,060 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $90,610 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,080 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 3,420
Versus national median: 19.5% above the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.79 - this occupation is less concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alaska employs approximately 3,420 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $70,100 ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 237,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a cdl truck driver in Alaska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Alaska

How to become a cdl truck driver in Alaska? Alaska requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL). The licensing authority is the Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alaska? Yes. Alaska has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cdl truck drivers earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Alaska is $70,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,080 and experienced professionals can earn $90,610 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles
Median wage (Alaska): $70,100 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Alaska

The Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Alaska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Commercial Drivers License (CDL)	Commercial Drivers Licenses are issued by state departments but are similar from state to state, since the minimum requirements of the licenses and endorsements are set centrally.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
La Crosse-Onalaska	2,100	$60,300	$63,330	$47,000	$81,470
Anchorage	1,620	$66,190	$67,560	$48,650	$88,880
Fairbanks-College	590	$76,560	$72,350	$57,050	$78,810

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Top Metros for Cdl truck drivers in Alaska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cdl truck driver employment within Alaska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Anchorage	1,620	$66,190
Fairbanks-College	590	$76,560

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Explore More Trades in Alaska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 3,420 cdl truck drivers ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cdl truck driver in Alaska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Alaska.

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Alaska is $70,100, which is $12,660 above the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Division of the Alaska Department of Administration - Division of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: http://www.dps.state.ak.us/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)