I obtained my CDL about a year and a half ago. I have endorcements as well (tanker and hazmat.) I think there is less money to be made in it than most say. If you are OTR and have a home/family, You pay a lot out of pocket to live OTR in addition to paying the bills at home.
If you can live in the truck and drive a lot, you can earn a lot. Being a local driver can pay well but most companies want you to have OTR time.
If you don't need hazmat,skip it as its a bigger pain in the ass than you want. The DOT sits on your face a lot more and your roadside/scale inspections are more detailed. (not to mention fines are bigger if you break a law)
I went to work for an oil company on the western slope. Pay was similar to a lot of my jobs at 45k per year including per diem and mileage paid for going to/from the slope for work. I worked every 2 weeks, and recived 2 weeks off.(travel was on my time off and yeah,they worked all of us like dogs)
I was injured on the job and the fight is horrible to recive care(thats another story though) If you dont get hurt and can stand the weather and jerks you work with, the job is not really that hard.
I drilled water 8 years ago and the oil job was a joke compared to it. However,I did lose 30% of my knee cartalidge and was forced to work injured. That pretty much sucked.
Driving a big rig is easy after you get used to its size.If you can't pay attention or forget things easily, or if you drive a car sloppy,dont get the CDL or you might kill someone.(maybe even yourself) If you plan to go OTR and get a CDL as you drive(swift ect.) remember the contract binds you for a year minimum. You might want to try the oil job as it pays more and after a year you dont owe them for the CDL. PM me if you want details. Its not a great job but what is now a days?