Light Truck Driver Salary in Columbus, OH
Light Truck Drivers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $43,800 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,951 take-home, or $3,079 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,716
- Medicare (1.45%)$635
- Ohio income tax$422
- Take-home pay$36,951
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $1,095 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $35,856 ($2,988 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,930 | $13.43 | $24,610 | $2,051 |
| 25th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 | $30,743 | $2,562 |
| Median (50th) | $43,800 | $21.06 | $36,951 | $3,079 |
| 75th percentile | $47,030 | $22.61 | $39,458 | $3,288 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,250 | $32.33 | $55,073 | $4,589 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,800 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $36,951 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,705 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 Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $43,800 | $36,951 | $38,705 |
*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
- Cincinnati, OH — $44,070
- Cleveland, OH — $43,160
- Dayton, OH — $42,200
- Akron, OH — $40,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Columbus, OH?
The median light truck driver salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $43,800 a year, or about $21.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,800 and $47,030.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $43,800 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $36,951 a year ($3,079 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $422 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, 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 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,705 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #18 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,260
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,720
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,780
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,200
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,040
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $38,090
- Driver/Sales Worker — $36,730