"How long does it take to become a cdl truck driver in Hawaii?"

"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."

"Do cdl truck drivers need a license in Hawaii?"

"Yes. Hawaii requires state-level licensing or registration for cdl truck drivers, administered by the Honolulu City and County. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Hawaii, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Hawaii Workforce Development Division - Apprenticeships, 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 Hawaii

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,820. Employment concentration in Hawaii is roughly 0.49 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Hawaii currently employs approximately 4,070 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

Hawaii heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $59,820 ($28.76/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,070 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.0% above the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,820 ($28.76/hr)
25th percentile: $52,520 per year
75th percentile: $64,910 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $74,530 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,480 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 4,070
Versus national median: 2.0% above the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.49 - this occupation is less concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

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

Hawaii employs approximately 4,070 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,820 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 Hawaii, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in Hawaii

How do I become a cdl truck driver in Hawaii? Hawaii requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Commercial Drivers License (CDL). The licensing authority is the Honolulu City and County 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 Hawaii? Yes. Hawaii has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Honolulu City and County oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cdl truck drivers earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Hawaii is $59,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,480 and experienced professionals can earn $74,530 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: Honolulu City and County
Median wage (Hawaii): $59,820 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Hawaii

The Honolulu City and County oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Hawaii 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 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 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 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 Hawaii

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in Hawaii vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu	2,890	$59,330	$59,850	$47,250	$73,840
Kahului-Wailuku	530	$63,420	$65,240	$50,900	$77,410

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 Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Urban Honolulu	2,890	$59,330
Kahului-Wailuku	530	$63,420

Explore More Trades in Hawaii

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 4,070 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 Hawaii with an out-of-state license? Contact the Honolulu City and County for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Hawaii is $59,820, which is $2,380 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Honolulu City and County - Licensing Information: http://www.honolulu.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)