Light Truck Driver Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Light Truck Drivers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $44,070 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,161 take-home, or $3,097 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,108
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,732
- Medicare (1.45%)$639
- Ohio income tax$430
- Take-home pay$37,161
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cincinnati? City residents also pay Cincinnati’s city income tax — about $793 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,367 ($3,031 a month). Choose “Cincinnati” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,600 | $13.27 | $24,339 | $2,028 |
| 25th percentile | $36,720 | $17.65 | $31,457 | $2,621 |
| Median (50th) | $44,070 | $21.19 | $37,161 | $3,097 |
| 75th percentile | $48,540 | $23.34 | $40,629 | $3,386 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,840 | $39.83 | $65,612 | $5,468 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,070 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,161 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,965 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Light Truck Driver jobs are about as common in Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #14 of 75 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga, TN | $49,990 | $42,347 | $46,299 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $48,350 | $41,029 | $44,510 |
| 3 | Louisville, KY | $47,150 | $38,532 | $41,400 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $47,150 | $38,786 | $40,790 |
| 5 | Omaha, NE | $45,080 | $37,230 | $40,507 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $45,290 | $37,379 | $40,391 |
| 7 | Lakeland, FL | $46,010 | $39,149 | $40,301 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $48,020 | $39,290 | $39,828 |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $44,070 | $37,161 | $38,965 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 75 metros →
About the job: light truck drivers
Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Light Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $43,160
- Columbus, OH — $43,800
- Dayton, OH — $42,200
- Akron, OH — $40,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median light truck driver salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $44,070 a year, or about $21.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,720 and $48,540.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $44,070 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $37,161 a year ($3,097 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $430 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,965 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #14 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
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- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $63,900
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,590
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,000
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,870
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,240
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,810
- Driver/Sales Worker — $36,900
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $36,680
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,650