How to Become A CDL Truck Driver in Washington
Washington employs approximately 40,530 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $64,760 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 Washington, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Washington
How to become a cdl truck driver in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Commercial Driver. The licensing authority is the Department of Licensing 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 Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Department of Licensing oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do cdl truck drivers earn in Washington? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Washington is $64,760 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $50,010 and experienced professionals can earn $87,500 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 Licensing
- Median wage (Washington): $64,760 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Washington
The Department of Licensing oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Washington 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. |
| Commercial Driver | Individuals who operate a vehicle in interstate commerce need to keep a current medical examiner’s certificate on file with the Department of Licensing, a requirement that does not apply for individua… |
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 Washington
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Wages by Metro Area in Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in Washington vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) |
Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 21,230 | $71,240 | $71,980 | $55,980 | $93,810 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 20,430 | $59,820 | $62,330 | $44,870 | $82,540 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 14,370 | $63,800 | $66,890 | $49,090 | $85,590 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 3,890 | $62,980 | $63,480 | $48,300 | $77,020 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 2,100 | $62,520 | $66,300 | $48,430 | $87,910 |
| Yakima | 1,580 | $57,210 | $57,800 | $39,330 | $73,690 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 1,210 | $63,040 | $64,440 | $47,070 | $81,930 |
| Bellingham | 1,200 | $61,890 | $64,520 | $48,420 | $78,180 |
| Longview-Kelso | 770 | $62,930 | $66,310 | $49,500 | $84,920 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | 670 | $62,240 | $65,910 | $49,400 | $83,310 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | 530 | $58,070 | $62,440 | $47,150 | $80,900 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | 430 | $62,710 | $66,120 | $50,980 | $77,950 |
| Lewiston | 390 | $58,830 | $59,000 | $44,030 | $76,770 |
| Walla Walla | 270 | $60,300 | $59,520 | $47,060 | $72,490 |
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 .
Top Metros for Cdl truck drivers in Washington
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cdl truck driver employment within Washington according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 21,230 | $71,240 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 3,890 | $62,980 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 2,100 | $62,520 |
| Yakima | 1,580 | $57,210 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 1,210 | $63,040 |
Explore cdl truck driver programs in Seattle, Spokane, and Kennewick.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 40,530 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Licensing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Washington.
How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Washington is $64,760, which is $7,320 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
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Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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Department of Licensing - Licensing Information: https://www.dol.wa.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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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) |