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

"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 Maryland?"

"In Maryland, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training, 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 Maryland

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in Maryland earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,360. Employment concentration in Maryland is roughly 0.80 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 Maryland?"

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

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

"Maryland currently employs approximately 29,150 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

Maryland employs approximately 29,150 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,360 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 Maryland, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in Maryland

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

What do cdl truck drivers earn in Maryland? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Maryland is $59,360 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,670 and experienced professionals can earn $79,130 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: Maryland Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Administration
Median wage (Maryland): $59,360 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Administration oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Maryland 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 Maryland

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	32,220	$59,370	$62,060	$46,850	$79,590
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	20,430	$59,820	$62,330	$44,870	$82,540
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson	15,580	$59,460	$60,770	$43,580	$78,770
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	2,360	$56,310	$57,160	$39,100	$81,340
Salisbury	540	$54,360	$55,550	$39,430	$75,500
Lexington Park	310	$56,250	$56,980	$40,210	$75,470

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 Maryland

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson	15,580	$59,460
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	2,360	$56,310
Salisbury	540	$54,360
Lexington Park	310	$56,250

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Baltimore, Hagerstown, and Salisbury.

Explore More Trades in Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Maryland? Maryland currently employs approximately 29,150 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 Maryland with an out-of-state license? Contact the Maryland Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Administration for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Maryland compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Maryland is $59,360, which is $1,920 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Maryland Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Administration - Licensing Information: http://www.mva.maryland.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)