Truck Driver Salary in Montana
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in Montana. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$59,180
CDL-B Avg
$43,500
Non-CDL Avg
$50,550
Owner-Op Gross
$185,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How Montana truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in Montana
Montana's cost of living is 5% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$59,180
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$62,295
After adjusting for Montana's cost of living index of 95, a CDL-A salary of $59,180 provides the same purchasing power as $62,295 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in Montana than the raw salary suggests.
Which Montana metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the Montana 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 Montana
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in Montana, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $56,813 | 95 | Stable |
| Bozeman | $56,813 | 93 | Stable |
| Missoula | $56,813 | 93 | Stable |
| Great Falls | $56,813 | 93 | Stable |
Salary Trend in Montana
Montana trucking wages are climbing as energy sector activity, agricultural hauling, and the state's growing population drive increased freight demand across vast distances.
Montana vs National Average
| Category | MT | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $59,180 | $59,710 | $-530 |
| Cost of Living | 95 | 100 | -5 |
| Adjusted Pay | $62,295 | $59,710 | +$2,585 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in Montana
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in Montana, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
OTR Dry Van Driver
$54,500 - $77,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$59,500 - $84,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$61,000 - $86,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$62,000 - $87,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$62,500 - $88,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$64,000 - $91,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$65,500 - $92,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$68,500 - $97,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$55,500 - $78,500/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$45,500 - $64,500/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$51,500 - $73,000/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$52,500 - $74,000/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$56,500 - $80,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$57,500 - $81,500/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$54,500 - $77,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$44,500 - $63,000/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in Montana
What do truck drivers earn in Montana?
Montana CDL-A drivers average $59,180 annually. Billings drivers earn the most as the city serves as the primary distribution hub for the eastern Montana energy and agricultural sectors.
What unique trucking challenges does Montana have?
Montana's vast distances (I-90 crosses 555 miles of the state), extreme winter conditions, and sparse population create long runs between stops. The state has no speed limit for trucks on some rural interstates during daytime.
What freight is hauled in Montana?
Montana freight includes cattle and grain from ranching regions, energy sector equipment (oil from the Bakken formation), timber from western forests, and mining products. Seasonal agricultural hauls peak in fall.
What does Montana pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in Montana
- Entry Level driver pay in Montana
- Mid Level driver pay in Montana
- Experienced driver pay in Montana
- Veteran driver pay in Montana