Truck Driver Salary in Louisiana
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in Louisiana. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$51,930
CDL-B Avg
$44,500
Non-CDL Avg
$44,940
Owner-Op Gross
$195,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How Louisiana truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in Louisiana
Louisiana's cost of living is 9% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$51,930
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$57,066
After adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living index of 91, a CDL-A salary of $51,930 provides the same purchasing power as $57,066 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in Louisiana than the raw salary suggests.
Which Louisiana metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the Louisiana average scaled for metro size. Where two metros show the same number it is because they sit in the same population band — we do not hold data fine-grained enough to separate them, and we would rather say so than invent a difference.
Salary by City in Louisiana
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in Louisiana, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $56,084 | 97 | Rising |
| Baton Rouge | $54,007 | 93 | Stable |
| Shreveport | $51,930 | 91 | Stable |
| Lake Charles | $51,930 | 91 | Stable |
Salary Trend in Louisiana
Louisiana trucking wages are stable, supported by petrochemical corridor hauling between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Port of South Louisiana activity, and Gulf Coast energy sector freight.
Louisiana vs National Average
| Category | LA | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $51,930 | $59,710 | $-7,780 |
| Cost of Living | 91 | 100 | -9 |
| Adjusted Pay | $57,066 | $59,710 | $-2,644 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in Louisiana
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in Louisiana, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
OTR Dry Van Driver
$48,000 - $67,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$52,000 - $73,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$53,500 - $75,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$54,500 - $77,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$55,000 - $77,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$56,500 - $79,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$57,500 - $81,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$60,000 - $85,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$48,500 - $69,000/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$40,000 - $56,500/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$45,500 - $64,000/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$46,000 - $65,000/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$49,500 - $70,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$50,500 - $71,500/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$48,000 - $67,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$39,000 - $55,500/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in Louisiana
What do truck drivers earn in Louisiana?
Louisiana CDL-A drivers average $51,930 per year. Hazmat tanker drivers working the petrochemical corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans can earn significantly more.
What are the highest-paying trucking jobs in Louisiana?
Hazmat tanker drivers in the Chemical Corridor earn the most, followed by oilfield hauling in the northern parishes and Port of South Louisiana drayage operations.
Is Louisiana a good state for owner-operators?
Louisiana offers decent owner-operator opportunities, with gross revenues around $195,000. The petrochemical and energy sectors provide consistent specialized freight, though hurricane season can disrupt schedules.
What does Louisiana pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in Louisiana
- Entry Level driver pay in Louisiana
- Mid Level driver pay in Louisiana
- Experienced driver pay in Louisiana
- Veteran driver pay in Louisiana