The average salary for a Truck Driver in San Diego is 66,894 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,575 $ gross per month and 32.16 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 34,000 $ to 111,111 $. The analysis is based on 30 salary reports from workers and employers in San Diego. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/29/2026 | Long-Haul Hazmat Endorsed Driver | 40.0 h | 98,000 $ | 98,000 $ | 8,167 $ | 47.12 $ | I drive long-haul loads that require hazmat endorsement. It's a full-time, higher-responsibility role and the pay reflects specialized certifications and long distances. |
| 01/20/2026 | Dock / Yard Driver | 38.5 h | 58,000 $ | 60,260 $ | 5,022 $ | 28.97 $ | I work full-time on the dock and as a yard driver for a large distribution center. My responsibilities include trailer moves and some forklift work; I've been here four years. |
| 11/23/2025 | Senior Dispatcher / Driver Hybrid | 44.0 h | 105,000 $ | 95,455 $ | 7,955 $ | 45.89 $ | I split time between dispatching and driving as a senior hybrid role for a large logistics firm. My responsibilities include route planning, mentoring drivers, and occasional long runs. |
| 10/12/2025 | Driver Trainer / Instructor | 40.0 h | 90,000 $ | 90,000 $ | 7,500 $ | 43.27 $ | I am a full-time driver trainer for a logistics company, training new CDL drivers and occasionally driving routes. This management-adjacent role includes mentoring and classroom time. |
| 06/30/2025 | Part-time Local Delivery Driver | 30.0 h | 46,500 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I work part-time handling local last-mile deliveries for a medium-sized courier outfit. I average 30 hours weekly and have specialized in high-turnover warehouse-to-door routes. |
| 01/15/2025 | Regional Driver (Large Logistics Firm) | 40.0 h | 82,000 $ | 82,000 $ | 6,833 $ | 39.42 $ | I work full-time for a national carrier on regional dedicated lanes. Benefits and predictable miles improved my compensation after a few years on this lane. |
| 12/05/2024 | Short-Haul Pickup & Delivery Driver | 35.0 h | 58,600 $ | 66,971 $ | 5,581 $ | 32.20 $ | I do short-haul P&D runs for a national customer on a full-time 35-hour schedule. The role involves tight delivery windows and a steady route. |
| 09/03/2024 | Owner-Operator (High-Mileage) | 45.0 h | 125,000 $ | 111,111 $ | 9,259 $ | 53.42 $ | I operate as an owner-operator focusing on long-haul and refrigerated freight. I work long weeks (about 45 hours driving plus admin), and this is gross revenue prior to equipment/expense deductions. |
| 04/22/2024 | Senior Tanker Driver | 40.0 h | 95,500 $ | 95,500 $ | 7,958 $ | 45.91 $ | I'm a senior tanker driver with several endorsements and over ten years of experience. I do high-responsibility runs and work full-time for a regional petroleum carrier. |
| 11/02/2023 | Entry-Level OTR Driver (Trainee) | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I recently completed training and work full-time on OTR runs. This is my first year as a solo driver and my pay reflects newer-driver rates in the current market. |
| 07/18/2023 | Port Drayage Driver | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I work full-time moving containers around the port and to nearby warehouses for a regional carrier. The job is stop-and-go but steady, and I've been doing it for four years. |
| 02/06/2023 | Long-Haul Team Driver | 40.0 h | 85,000 $ | 85,000 $ | 7,083 $ | 40.87 $ | I drive in a dedicated team on transcontinental freight. We're both full-time and the team setup allows for higher annual earnings than solo driving. |
| 10/29/2022 | Shuttle / Courier Driver (Part-time) | 25.0 h | 36,300 $ | 58,080 $ | 4,840 $ | 27.92 $ | I work part-time doing shuttle and courier work for a small delivery outfit. I average 25 hours a week and I've been here about three years; it's flexible but part-time pay is lower. |
| 06/10/2022 | Mixed-Shift Route Driver | 36.0 h | 62,000 $ | 68,889 $ | 5,741 $ | 33.12 $ | I drive mixed shifts (early mornings and some evenings) on regional routes for a medium carrier. I'm full-time but average about 36 hours due to scheduling. |
| 03/14/2022 | Owner-Operator Contractor | 44.0 h | 110,000 $ | 100,000 $ | 8,333 $ | 48.08 $ | I'm an independent contractor owner-operator running regional and OTR loads. 2021–2022 had higher spot rates and this reflects my gross annual revenue before expenses. |
| 09/20/2021 | Senior Driver / Lead Driver | 42.0 h | 78,500 $ | 74,762 $ | 6,230 $ | 35.94 $ | I serve as a lead driver and mentor to newer hires while still driving routes full-time. I manage schedules informally and work around 42 hours a week at a mid-size carrier. |
| 04/05/2021 | Regional Linehaul Driver | 40.0 h | 68,200 $ | 68,200 $ | 5,683 $ | 32.79 $ | I'm a regional linehaul driver for a large logistics firm, full-time with three years at this position. Rates improved after 2020 and my pay reflects regional runs and loaded miles. |
| 11/11/2020 | Relief Driver (Part-time) | 20.0 h | 28,000 $ | 56,000 $ | 4,667 $ | 26.92 $ | I do part-time relief driving when full-time drivers need time off. I average about 20 hours a week and have been in this role intermittently for four years. |
| 05/30/2020 | Full-time Grocery Delivery Driver | 38.0 h | 58,400 $ | 61,474 $ | 5,123 $ | 29.55 $ | I work full-time making grocery deliveries for a local distribution customer. Work picked up during the pandemic and my hourly/weekly pay increased; I've been in this role two years. |
| 12/02/2019 | Owner-Operator (Independent) | 45.0 h | 95,000 $ | 84,444 $ | 7,037 $ | 40.60 $ | I run my own authority as an owner-operator and drive long-haul mostly. I bill a lot of my own loads and work about 45 hours a week when I'm running; these are gross earnings before my operating costs. |
| 06/21/2019 | OTR Team Driver | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I drive in a team on OTR freight for a national carrier. Between the two of us we keep the truck moving; I'm full-time and this is my fifth year driving professionally. |
| 04/16/2019 | CDL-A New Grad | 40.0 h | 34,000 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I am a new-graduate CDL-A driver in my first full-time position. This is entry-level pay while I build miles and experience. |
| 12/07/2018 | Interstate OTR Driver | 40.0 h | 52,400 $ | 52,400 $ | 4,367 $ | 25.19 $ | I drive interstate OTR routes full-time for a regional carrier. I have several years of experience and my pay reflects consistent mileage and per diem practices. |
| 10/15/2018 | Tanker / Hazmat Driver | 40.0 h | 56,300 $ | 56,300 $ | 4,692 $ | 27.07 $ | I'm a full-time tanker driver with hazmat endorsement working for a regional fuel carrier. I have seven years' experience and handle specialized loads. |
| 03/30/2018 | Yard Jockey / Dock Driver | 30.0 h | 31,200 $ | 41,600 $ | 3,467 $ | 20.00 $ | I work part-time as a yard jockey at a small yard handling moving trailers and lot organization. I have five years of experience and average about 30 hours a week. |
| 08/20/2017 | Long-Haul OTR Driver | 40.0 h | 44,000 $ | 44,000 $ | 3,667 $ | 21.15 $ | I'm an entry-level long-haul driver with about one year of solo OTR experience. I work full-time and do multi-state runs, usually out for a week at a time. |
| 02/14/2017 | Small Business Delivery Driver | 40.0 h | 36,000 $ | 36,000 $ | 3,000 $ | 17.31 $ | I run routes for a small, family-owned logistics business where I'm the only full-time driver. The work is steady but the company is small so pay is more modest. |
| 11/02/2016 | Local Route Driver | 40.0 h | 38,500 $ | 38,500 $ | 3,208 $ | 18.51 $ | I've been a full-time local route driver at a mid-size carrier for three years. I handle multiple daily stops and I don't supervise anyone. |
| 09/09/2016 | Weekend / Weekend-Only Driver (Part-time) | 18.0 h | 22,000 $ | 48,889 $ | 4,074 $ | 23.50 $ | I drive weekend-only shifts to supplement income, averaging about 18 hours a week. It's part-time work for a small delivery operator and fits my school schedule. |
| 07/10/2016 | Part-time Local Delivery Driver | 20.0 h | 26,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I work part-time doing local deliveries for a small logistics shop. I started as a helper and have been driving for about two years; this 20-hour schedule fits my other job. |
San Diego’s goods movement economy combines cross-border trade with local distribution, giving truck drivers a steady mix of regional and local routes. The metro sits at the southern end of California’s I-5 corridor, connects east via I-8 to Arizona, and links north–south freight on I-15. The Otay Mesa Port of Entry is one of the busiest commercial crossings with Mexico, and the Port of San Diego handles automobiles and breakbulk at its marine terminals. Together, these features often translate into consistent hiring for CDL-A and CDL-B drivers across linehaul, drayage, LTL, and local delivery roles.
Trucking demand in San Diego typically follows several drivers: cross-border manufacturing and maquiladora shipments from Tijuana, consumer distribution for a large population and tourism sector, ongoing construction activity, and time-sensitive deliveries to defense and life sciences firms. While the region is not a giant warehousing hub like the Inland Empire, San Diego’s border and port access keep freight flowing year-round, with seasonal peaks tied to retail, produce, and holiday shipping.
Local job postings for truck drivers in San Diego frequently emphasize familiarity with Southern California traffic patterns, tight delivery windows, and customer service for pickup-and-delivery routes. Border-related roles in Otay Mesa can require knowledge of customs documentation and secure crossing procedures, and some employers look for drivers enrolled in FAST or working with C-TPAT–compliant carriers. Port work at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and National City Marine Terminal may require a TWIC credential for secured-area access.
Regulatory changes also shape the market. California’s clean-air rules and fleet turnover requirements mean drivers often operate newer equipment, and drayage operations are moving toward zero-emission vehicles under state and local initiatives. Companies may provide training on electric or alternative-fuel tractors as deployments expand. Safety-minded operators with endorsements—such as hazmat (H), tanker (N), or doubles/triples (T)—can access niche opportunities in fuel hauling, chemicals, and high-cube or LTL linehaul.
San Diego’s industrial clusters are spread across Otay Mesa, National City, Kearny Mesa/Miramar, Poway, and North County (Vista/Oceanside). Many local positions are home daily and start early to beat congestion, while regional linehaul runs commonly move freight between San Diego, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Phoenix.
Truck drivers in San Diego are hired by a mix of national carriers, LTL companies, foodservice and beverage distributors, and waste/recycling operators. Examples include:
The Port of San Diego and the Otay Mesa industrial district also support numerous third-party logistics providers and cross-border carriers. Auto-processing at the National City Marine Terminal and project cargo at Tenth Avenue create downstream trucking demand handled by area carriers and specialized haulers.
Drivers in San Diego can chart several paths:
Professionals who keep a clean driving record, maintain current medical certification, and add endorsements generally have an easier time moving into higher-responsibility roles. Familiarity with electronic logging devices, dock operations, and safe urban maneuvering is valued. Given California’s evolving emissions requirements, drivers who are open to new equipment and technologies may find additional opportunities as fleets modernize.
Overall, San Diego’s mix of border trade, port activity, and regional distribution typically sustains a healthy level of hiring for truck drivers. Those who know the I-5, I-8, I-15, and SR-905 corridors—and understand the realities of Southern California traffic and cross-border logistics—can usually find diverse roles across the county’s industrial submarkets.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in San Diego is 66,894 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,575 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Truck Driver and the city overview for San Diego. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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