How long does cdl truck driver training take in New Hampshire?

Most people become a CDL Truck Driver in New Hampshire through FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in New Hampshire (2026)

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 about 6,960 CDL truck drivers earning a median $60,280 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a CDL Truck Driver here means completing FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years, then applying through NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education.

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in New Hampshire

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts	62.3	Contact school for pricing	$61,966	74%	—	47 mi
2	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode Island	61.9	Contact school for pricing	$61,966	81%	—	94 mi
3	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-Bridgeport	61.4	Contact school for pricing	$52,806	74%	—	158 mi
4	Schuylkill Technology Center	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$53,477	63%	—	285 mi
5	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Connecticut	58.3	Contact school for pricing	$52,806	69%	—	92 mi
6	Dawn Career Institute LLC	52.4	Contact school for pricing	$32,884	82%	—	320 mi
7	All-State Career School	41.9	Contact school for pricing	$48,534	53%	—	295 mi
8	White Mountains Community College	41.1	$7,050 in-state / $15,300 out-of-state	$60,674	62%	—	94 mi
9	Fortis Institute-Forty Fort	36.5	$13,955	$39,004	71%	—	250 mi
10	Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute	34.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,393	76%	—	294 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

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 licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: ELDT from a Training Provider Registry school (find programs)
Typical timeline: FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years
Licensing authority: NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (New Hampshire): $60,280 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in New Hampshire

How to become a CDL Truck Driver in New Hampshire? Complete FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years. Apply through NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education.

How long does it take? Most people finish FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years. Confirm current hour totals with the program and NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education.

Do I need a license in New Hampshire? Yes. New Hampshire credentials this role through NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education ³. See the licensing section below.

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.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in New Hampshire

Meet age, record, and medical rules. Interstate CDL driving is generally 21 and up; many states allow intrastate CDL at 18. Pass a DOT medical exam from an NRCME examiner.
Complete FMCSA ELDT. Take Entry-Level Driver Training from a school on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Get a CLP and pass the skills test. Earn a commercial learner’s permit, practice, then pass the skills test at the state driver-license office.
Receive the CDL and endorsements. The state issues the CDL. Add endorsements the job needs. Confirm current rules with the state DMV, not a parent transportation agency homepage.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in New Hampshire

CDL truck drivers in New Hampshire complete FMCSA ELDT, pass a DOT medical exam, and earn a state-issued CDL. This is a weeks-long path, not a multi-year apprenticeship. See NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education ³.

Typical path

Meet age, record, and DOT medical rules.
Complete ELDT on the Training Provider Registry.
Get a CLP and pass the skills test.
Receive the CDL and needed endorsements from the state DMV.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with NH Department of Safety - Division of Motor Vehicles - Driver Education before you enroll.

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 ( 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 .

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 state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for 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.

In New Hampshire

Best Trade Schools in New Hampshire (2026)

Top local programs

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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 ↩︎ ↩︎

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)