How much does a CDL-A job in Indiana really pay, and how much of it do you keep? We pulled the numbers from our own job database and ran them through 2026 tax rates.
What Indiana CDL-A jobs pay right now
In our database there are 64 open CDL-A jobs that hire drivers in Indiana, and 47 of them list an average pay figure from the carrier.
| Weekly pay (carrier-reported average) | |
|---|---|
| Middle of the pack (median) | $1,400 |
| Lower quarter of jobs | $1,200 or less |
| Top quarter of jobs | $1,600 or more |
Other numbers worth knowing:
- 15 of these jobs get you home daily, 22 home weekly.
- 7 are local and 12 are dedicated.
- 24 accept brand-new CDL-A drivers.
Why Indiana is different
Indiana calls itself the Crossroads of America for a reason: more interstates cross the state than almost anywhere, and Indianapolis, Plainfield and Lafayette are packed with distribution and manufacturing freight. Northwest Indiana (Gary, Hammond) also works Chicago-area jobs. That mix gives Indiana drivers a lot of home-daily options.
What you keep after taxes
Take a driver in Indiana at the median: about $1,400 a week, 50 working weeks, so about $70,000 a year as a W-2 company driver, single, standard deduction.
| Per year | |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $70,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$6,570 |
| Indiana state income tax | −$2,036 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,355 |
| Take-home | $56,040 (about $1,121 a week) |
Indiana tax in short: a flat 2.95% state income tax with a $1,000 personal exemption. Every Indiana county adds its own local income tax, usually between about 1% and 3%, which is not in the table above. Indiana and Illinois have a reciprocity agreement, so Indiana residents working for an Illinois-based job usually pay Indiana tax; confirm with your tax preparer.
For comparison, the same paycheck in Texas (no state income tax) would leave about $2,036 more a year. Want to run your own numbers, or compare two offers after taxes? Use our free pay calculator: pick your state and it shows the take-home for both offers, including 1099 jobs.
These are estimates for a single filer with no other income, before health insurance, 401(k) and local taxes. Your real numbers depend on your situation; this is not tax advice.
Where the jobs are
Browse open Indiana jobs by metro: Indianapolis · Fort Wayne, or see all Indiana CDL-A jobs.
Sources: pay figures are carrier-reported averages from our job database (October 2026); federal brackets and standard deduction from the IRS 2026 inflation adjustments; state rates from the Tax Foundation's 2026 state income tax table; Social Security wage base from the SSA.
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