The average salary for a Truck Driver in Santa Ana is 53,361 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,447 $ gross per month and 25.65 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 33,067 $ to 81,818 $. The analysis is based on 24 salary reports from workers and employers in Santa Ana. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/01/2026 | Fleet Operations Supervisor (Former Driver) | 44.0 h | 90,000 $ | 81,818 $ | 6,818 $ | 39.34 $ | I transitioned from driving into fleet supervision, overseeing scheduling and driver performance for a mid-size carrier. I still do occasional driving but primarily manage operations. |
| 03/08/2026 | Parcel Delivery Driver (Part-Time) | 30.0 h | 27,200 $ | 36,267 $ | 3,022 $ | 17.44 $ | I work part-time delivering parcels across Santa Ana. Hours are typically 30 per week and flexible around other commitments. |
| 07/13/2025 | Local Delivery Driver (Higher Cost Area) | 40.0 h | 61,200 $ | 61,200 $ | 5,100 $ | 29.42 $ | I deliver high-frequency routes in and around Santa Ana; the higher local pay reflects increased cost of living and demand for reliable drivers. Full-time, no management duties. |
| 04/06/2025 | Training Instructor / Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 78,800 $ | 78,800 $ | 6,567 $ | 37.88 $ | I train new drivers and still run senior routes occasionally. This full-time role includes safety training responsibilities for a regional carrier. |
| 01/17/2025 | Shuttle Driver (Warehouse) | 40.0 h | 53,200 $ | 53,200 $ | 4,433 $ | 25.58 $ | I shuttle trailers between distribution centers. The employer is a large warehouse operator and the position is full-time with predictable shifts. |
| 11/30/2024 | Expedited Freight Driver | 44.0 h | 69,500 $ | 63,182 $ | 5,265 $ | 30.38 $ | I handle expedited and time-critical freight on regional routes. It's a demanding full-time role with premium pay for quick turnarounds. |
| 05/28/2024 | Intermodal Specialist (Senior) | 40.0 h | 67,200 $ | 67,200 $ | 5,600 $ | 32.31 $ | I coordinate and drive intermodal transfers between port and rail facilities. This senior position in a medium company requires experience and results in solid pay. |
| 02/14/2024 | Hazmat Team Lead | 42.0 h | 81,500 $ | 77,619 $ | 6,468 $ | 37.32 $ | I lead a small hazardous materials driving team and maintain compliance and training. I still drive regularly but have leadership responsibilities at a large carrier. |
| 11/10/2023 | Local Pickup/Delivery Driver (Part-Time) | 20.0 h | 19,500 $ | 39,000 $ | 3,250 $ | 18.75 $ | I'm part-time doing pickups and deliveries for local retailers. The hours are limited but steady; I don't have any managerial duties. |
| 07/21/2023 | Delivery Supervisor (Driver Manager) | 44.0 h | 76,000 $ | 69,091 $ | 5,758 $ | 33.22 $ | I supervise a small team of delivery drivers and still run occasional routes. This is a management role within a medium-sized logistics operation, full-time with supervisory duties. |
| 03/02/2023 | CDL A Driver - Night Shift | 40.0 h | 58,500 $ | 58,500 $ | 4,875 $ | 28.13 $ | I'm a night shift driver for regional deliveries. The schedule pays a modest shift differential and is full-time with regular routes. |
| 06/19/2022 | Team Driver - Long Haul | 45.0 h | 72,500 $ | 64,444 $ | 5,370 $ | 30.98 $ | I drive in a two-person team on coast-to-coast runs. This is full-time senior work, and we often do extended hours to meet delivery windows and maximize pay. |
| 01/27/2022 | Refrigerated Truck Driver (Senior) | 42.0 h | 60,500 $ | 57,619 $ | 4,802 $ | 27.70 $ | I'm a senior refrigerated driver handling long regional runs and high-value loads. I work full-time with occasional overtime; I also help train new drivers. |
| 09/08/2021 | Linehaul Driver (Mid-Level) | 40.0 h | 56,500 $ | 56,500 $ | 4,708 $ | 27.16 $ | I drive scheduled linehaul lanes between major hubs and have been doing this for five years. It's a full-time role for a large carrier and the pay has slowly increased with tenure. |
| 03/15/2021 | Local Shuttle Driver (Part-Time) | 30.0 h | 24,800 $ | 33,067 $ | 2,756 $ | 15.90 $ | I work part-time moving goods between warehouses within the metro area. The role is steady but not full-time, and there are no management duties. |
| 11/22/2020 | Tow Truck Operator | 40.0 h | 41,000 $ | 41,000 $ | 3,417 $ | 19.71 $ | I operate a tow truck for a small roadside assistance company. Shifts are full-time and unpredictable at times, with occasional weekend work. |
| 02/18/2020 | Delivery Driver (Part-Time) | 25.0 h | 22,000 $ | 35,200 $ | 2,933 $ | 16.92 $ | I'm part-time doing last-mile deliveries in the city. Hours are flexible and I do not manage anyone. The hourly arrangement translates to a lower annual figure. |
| 10/02/2019 | CDL A Driver - Hazmat Endorsement | 40.0 h | 50,500 $ | 50,500 $ | 4,208 $ | 24.28 $ | I hold a Hazmat endorsement and run specialized loads regionally. This full-time role pays a premium compared to basic deliveries due to the training and certifications. |
| 06/11/2019 | Intermodal Shuttle Driver | 40.0 h | 44,600 $ | 44,600 $ | 3,717 $ | 21.44 $ | I shuttle containers between rail yards and ports on a full-time schedule. Work is steady and the employer is a mid-size logistics operator. |
| 09/14/2018 | Long-Haul Team Driver | 45.0 h | 51,500 $ | 45,778 $ | 3,815 $ | 22.01 $ | I work as part of a two-person long-haul team and we run extended interstate lanes. I consider this a senior driver role; we often work long stretches of hours to meet delivery windows. |
| 03/06/2018 | Flatbed Driver (Mid-Level) | 42.0 h | 47,800 $ | 45,524 $ | 3,794 $ | 21.89 $ | I handle flatbed loads and occasionally work in teams for difficult hauls. I'm full-time and sometimes do overtime; I don't have direct reports but mentor newer drivers. |
| 04/21/2017 | Local Refrigerated Truck Driver | 38.0 h | 39,200 $ | 41,263 $ | 3,439 $ | 19.84 $ | I haul perishable goods on daily local routes. I'm full-time and the work schedule is consistent early mornings. No supervisory responsibilities. |
| 11/03/2016 | Regional CDL A Driver | 40.0 h | 42,800 $ | 42,800 $ | 3,567 $ | 20.58 $ | I've been a regional driver for three years, running multi-day routes along the West Coast. This is a full-time position for a small fleet; I don't manage anyone. |
| 08/12/2016 | Local Delivery Driver (Entry-Level) | 40.0 h | 36,500 $ | 36,500 $ | 3,042 $ | 17.55 $ | I started here straight out of training and drive local routes delivering retail goods. I'm full-time and do standard routes without supervising others. Pay has been steady but was lower when I began. |
Truck drivers in Santa Ana, California benefit from being in the heart of the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metro, one of the largest freight markets in the United States. While Santa Ana itself is a dense, built-out city, it sits at the junction of I‑5, I‑405, and CA‑55 with quick access to CA‑22 and CA‑57. The region’s freight flows are tied to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, John Wayne Airport (SNA), and a broad base of retail, manufacturing, and food distribution across Orange County. This geography keeps demand steady for local pickup-and-delivery (P&D), drayage to and from the ports, and short‑haul regional runs to the Inland Empire’s warehouse corridor.
Employers in and around Santa Ana often seek experienced CDL holders who can navigate urban streets, tight delivery windows, and heavy traffic. Seasonal peaks linked to imports and holiday retail typically boost hiring in late summer and fall. California’s regulatory environment—such as AB5 contractor rules and evolving California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions requirements—continues to shape fleet strategies, with many carriers emphasizing employee-driver models and investing in newer or lower‑emission equipment.
The Orange County industrial market is characterized by very low vacancy and limited land for new large warehouses, which pushes many large distribution centers to the Inland Empire. Even so, Santa Ana’s central location means trucks are constantly moving between local manufacturers, grocery distributors, airport cargo operations, retail stores, and nearby regional hubs. E‑commerce, grocery delivery, beverage distribution, and LTL networks generally keep daily route work available, and port activity typically sustains drayage and intermodal opportunities.
Local job postings frequently emphasize clean motor vehicle records, knowledge of Southern California routes, and customer service skills for high‑touch delivery roles. Endorsements can expand options: hazmat and tanker for fuel and chemical work, a TWIC card for port access, and airport badging for air cargo work. Many employers provide equipment-specific training, but candidates who bring forklift familiarity, ELD proficiency, and safe city driving habits are often more competitive.
Truck drivers in the Santa Ana area are hired by a mix of parcel carriers, LTL providers, food and beverage distributors, waste and recycling companies, and regional/intermodal fleets. Examples include:
In Santa Ana, truck driving careers typically fall into several tracks:
Practical considerations in Santa Ana include congestion on I‑5 and I‑405, limited overnight truck parking, and neighborhood delivery restrictions. Successful drivers typically plan routes to avoid peak traffic, maintain strong communication with dispatch, and stay current with California equipment and emissions rules. Entry and mid‑career drivers can build experience locally and then move into specialized roles—such as hazardous materials, tanker, or heavy haul—or step into linehaul positions covering longer regional legs. Private CDL schools in Orange County and employer‑sponsored training programs can help new drivers meet licensing and endorsement requirements.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Santa Ana is 53,361 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,447 $ 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 Santa Ana. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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