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

"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 Nebraska?"

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

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

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - 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 Nebraska

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,390. Employment concentration in Nebraska is about 1.70 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 23,160 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

Nebraska heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $58,390 ($28.07/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 23,160 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.4% below the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,390 ($28.07/hr)
25th percentile: $47,020 per year
75th percentile: $75,830 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $81,790 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $40,150 per year
Workers employed in Nebraska: 23,160
Versus national median: -0.4% below the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.70 - this occupation is more concentrated in Nebraska than the national average

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

Nebraska employs approximately 23,160 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,390 ¹. The state’s concentration of cdl truck driver jobs is 1.70x 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 Nebraska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in Nebraska

How do I become a cdl truck driver in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Truck Driver (Heavy), Truck Driver (Light or Delivery Service). 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 Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska 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 Nebraska? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Nebraska is $58,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,150 and experienced professionals can earn $81,790 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 (Nebraska): $58,390 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Nebraska

The Department of Motor Vehicles oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Nebraska 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.
Truck Driver (Heavy)	Occupational Description Truck Drivers operate a variety of trucks to transport materials and finished products from one location to another location.
Truck Driver (Light or Delivery Service)	Occupational Description Truck Drivers operate a variety of trucks to transport materials and finished products from one location to another location.

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 Nebraska

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	10,210	$58,010	$58,710	$40,150	$80,650
Lincoln	4,530	$81,790	$73,050	$47,950	$81,790
Sioux City	2,820	$51,540	$55,120	$38,450	$79,320
Grand Island	970	$60,810	$63,840	$43,150	$94,810

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 2025.

Top Metros for Cdl truck drivers in Nebraska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	10,210	$58,010
Lincoln	4,530	$81,790
Grand Island	970	$60,810

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island.

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 23,160 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Nebraska.

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Nebraska is $58,390, which is $950 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: http://www.dmv.ne.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)