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

"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 New Hampshire?"

"In New Hampshire, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Hampshire Department of Education - 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 New Hampshire

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in New Hampshire earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,280. Employment concentration in New Hampshire is roughly 0.77 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 New Hampshire?"

"Yes. New Hampshire requires state-level licensing or registration for cdl truck drivers, administered by the NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"New Hampshire currently employs approximately 6,960 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

New Hampshire heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $60,280 ($28.98/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,960 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.8% above the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,280 ($28.98/hr)
25th percentile: $52,380 per year
75th percentile: $65,140 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $74,200 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,370 per year
Workers employed in New Hampshire: 6,960
Versus national median: 2.8% above the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Hampshire than the national average

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

New Hampshire employs approximately 6,960 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,280 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 New Hampshire, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in New Hampshire

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

What do cdl truck drivers earn in New Hampshire? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in New Hampshire is $60,280 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,370 and experienced professionals can earn $74,200 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: NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education
Median wage (New Hampshire): $60,280 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in New Hampshire

The NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education oversees cdl truck driver licensing in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	20,090	$64,010	$64,420	$47,950	$78,770
Manchester-Nashua	1,390	$58,900	$59,650	$46,300	$74,200

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 New Hampshire

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Manchester-Nashua	1,390	$58,900

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Manchester.

Explore More Trades in New Hampshire

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in New Hampshire? New Hampshire currently employs approximately 6,960 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 New Hampshire with an out-of-state license? Contact the NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in New Hampshire compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in New Hampshire is $60,280, which is $2,840 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education - Licensing Information: https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/apply-your-first-drivers-licensenon-driver-id/driver-education/instructors ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)