Light Truck Driver Salary in Dayton, OH
Light Truck Drivers in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $42,200 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,710 take-home, or $2,976 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,884
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,616
- Medicare (1.45%)$612
- Ohio income tax$378
- Take-home pay$35,710
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Dayton? City residents also pay Dayton’s city income tax — about $1,055 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $34,655 ($2,888 a month). Choose “Dayton” 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 Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,370 | $13.16 | $24,149 | $2,012 |
| 25th percentile | $33,590 | $16.15 | $29,028 | $2,419 |
| Median (50th) | $42,200 | $20.29 | $35,710 | $2,976 |
| 75th percentile | $48,270 | $23.21 | $40,420 | $3,368 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,950 | $44.69 | $72,447 | $6,037 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,200 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $35,710 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,524 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 Dayton, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Dayton, OH ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Dayton, OH | $42,200 | $35,710 | $38,524 |
*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
- Columbus, OH — $43,800
- Akron, OH — $40,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Dayton, OH?
The median light truck driver salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $42,200 a year, or about $20.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,590 and $48,270.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $42,200 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $35,710 a year ($2,976 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $378 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,524 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #19 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 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 Dayton, OH
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,490
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,120
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,280
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,750