How much does a CDL-A job in Tennessee 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 Tennessee CDL-A jobs pay right now
In our database there are 27 open CDL-A jobs that hire drivers in Tennessee, and 23 of them list an average pay figure from the carrier.
| Weekly pay (carrier-reported average) | |
|---|---|
| Middle of the pack (median) | $1,500 |
| Lower quarter of jobs | $1,300 or less |
| Top quarter of jobs | $1,650 or more |
Other numbers worth knowing:
- 3 of these jobs get you home daily, 12 home weekly.
- 3 are local and 10 are dedicated.
- 6 accept brand-new CDL-A drivers.
Why Tennessee is different
Memphis is one of the biggest distribution hubs in the country, with FedEx's main hub, rail yards and the Mississippi River, and Chattanooga and Nashville add regional freight along I-40, I-24 and I-75. That means many regional, dedicated and home-weekly jobs. Tennessee is also one of the states where you keep the most of your pay, because it has no state tax on wages.
What you keep after taxes
Take a driver in Tennessee at the median: about $1,500 a week, 50 working weeks, so about $75,000 a year as a W-2 company driver, single, standard deduction.
| Per year | |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $75,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$7,670 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,738 |
| Take-home | $61,592 (about $1,232 a week) |
Tennessee tax in short: no state income tax on wages. You still pay federal income tax and Social Security + Medicare, so compare take-home, not just gross, when you look at jobs in higher-tax states.
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 Tennessee jobs by metro: Memphis · Chattanooga, or see all Tennessee 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.
Want a recruiter who answers these questions before you ask?
Tell us 4 things and we match you with CDL-A jobs you can actually get. Free for drivers.
