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

"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 Kansas?"

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

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

"In Kansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kansas 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 Kansas

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in Kansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,920. Employment concentration in Kansas is about 1.27 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Kansas currently employs approximately 24,220 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

Kansas heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $58,920 ($28.33/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 24,220 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.5% above the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,920 ($28.33/hr)
25th percentile: $48,430 per year
75th percentile: $71,080 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $78,910 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,760 per year
Workers employed in Kansas: 24,220
Versus national median: 0.5% above the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.27 - this occupation is more concentrated in Kansas than the national average

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

Kansas employs approximately 24,220 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,920 ¹. The state’s concentration of cdl truck driver jobs is 1.27x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Kansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in Kansas

How do I become a cdl truck driver in Kansas? Kansas requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL). The licensing authority is the Kansas Department of Revenue - 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 Kansas? Yes. Kansas has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Kansas Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cdl truck drivers earn in Kansas? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Kansas is $58,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,760 and experienced professionals can earn $78,910 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: Kansas Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles
Median wage (Kansas): $58,920 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Kansas 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: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Kansas City	18,230	$60,170	$61,850	$44,070	$80,900
Wichita	3,890	$57,930	$58,050	$39,610	$75,630
Joplin	3,470	$47,430	$53,590	$39,350	$72,000
Topeka	1,450	$58,870	$60,900	$46,330	$77,260
St. Joseph	850	$56,330	$57,090	$38,490	$76,870
Manhattan	480	$51,750	$53,080	$39,420	$65,440
Lawrence	420	$59,050	$57,500	$40,240	$75,290

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 Kansas

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Wichita	3,890	$57,930
Topeka	1,450	$58,870
Manhattan	480	$51,750
Lawrence	420	$59,050

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Wichita, Topeka, and Manhattan.

Explore More Trades in Kansas

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Kansas? Kansas currently employs approximately 24,220 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 Kansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the Kansas Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Kansas is $58,920, which is $1,480 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Kansas Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: https://www.ksrevenue.org/dovindex.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)