How to Become A CDL Truck Driver in California
California employs approximately 205,090 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,230 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 California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in California
How do I become a cdl truck driver in California? California requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Commercial Driver License. The licensing authority is the Department 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 California? Yes. California has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Department of Motor Vehicles oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do cdl truck drivers earn in California? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in California is $60,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,830 and experienced professionals can earn $81,960 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: Department of Motor Vehicles
- Median wage (California): $60,230 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in California
The Department of Motor Vehicles oversees cdl truck driver licensing in California 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. |
| Commercial Driver License | Persons operating a commercial vehicle for a fee. Persons operating buses are also required to obtain a commercial driver license. |
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 California
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 61,270 | $60,340 | $61,230 | $42,910 | $80,120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 40,230 | $60,580 | $64,130 | $39,320 | $97,320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 16,450 | $66,450 | $69,260 | $48,300 | $94,280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 10,960 | $60,810 | $62,060 | $44,000 | $81,030 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 10,440 | $59,780 | $60,180 | $40,880 | $78,250 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 10,110 | $60,470 | $61,820 | $40,500 | $80,070 |
| Fresno | 8,170 | $55,740 | $55,990 | $36,620 | $76,580 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | 7,050 | $57,690 | $56,530 | $38,490 | $74,870 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 5,360 | $70,730 | $70,730 | $48,280 | $94,620 |
| Modesto | 3,510 | $58,330 | $58,500 | $38,530 | $78,030 |
| Visalia | 3,060 | $51,530 | $58,610 | $36,010 | $89,030 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 3,020 | $59,120 | $59,210 | $39,590 | $76,910 |
| Vallejo | 2,380 | $61,540 | $62,430 | $43,530 | $80,370 |
| Salinas | 2,140 | $53,390 | $56,250 | $38,480 | $76,970 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | 1,860 | $62,620 | $63,580 | $46,380 | $80,190 |
| Yuba City | 1,790 | $58,230 | $58,000 | $43,660 | $73,670 |
| Merced | 1,710 | $55,630 | $58,420 | $36,470 | $83,810 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 1,550 | $55,910 | $56,630 | $37,770 | $77,270 |
| El Centro | 1,130 | $55,140 | $56,410 | $37,870 | $75,380 |
| Redding | 940 | $57,350 | $56,330 | $39,490 | $74,400 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | 810 | $48,110 | $53,700 | $36,730 | $78,890 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 750 | $59,500 | $60,240 | $39,120 | $81,470 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 720 | $60,380 | $60,260 | $40,690 | $76,250 |
| Chico | 650 | $57,480 | $57,110 | $39,930 | $73,220 |
| Napa | 600 | $60,860 | $63,210 | $46,190 | $79,860 |
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 2025.
Top Metros for Cdl truck drivers in California
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cdl truck driver employment within California according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 61,270 | $60,340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 40,230 | $60,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 16,450 | $66,450 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 10,960 | $60,810 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 10,440 | $59,780 |
Explore cdl truck driver programs in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Francisco.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in California? California currently employs approximately 205,090 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 California with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in California.
How much do cdl truck drivers earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in California is $60,230, which is $2,790 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: https://calsta.ca.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |