Industrial Mechanic vs CDL Driver
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Industrial Mechanic
$60,750
National Median Salary
Total Jobs574,500
Annual Openings54,000
Training4 yr apprenticeship
CDL Driver
$54,320
National Median Salary
Total Jobs2,100,000
Annual Openings231,100
Training3-6 wk CDL program
Metric
Industrial Mechanic
CDL Driver
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $60,750* | $54,320 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 574,500 | 2,100,000* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 54,000 | 231,100* |
Training Time | 4 yr apprenticeship | 3-6 wk CDL program |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Industrial Mechanics
Alaska$87,230
Washington$83,450
Connecticut$80,120
Oregon$78,340
Michigan$76,890
Top States for CDL Drivers
Alaska$77,890
Wyoming$67,430
Washington$64,120
North Dakota$63,450
California$62,780