Light Truck Driver Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Light Truck Drivers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $45,180 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,179 take-home, or $3,098 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,242
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,801
- Medicare (1.45%)$655
- Indiana income tax$1,303
- Take-home pay$37,179
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $892 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,286 ($3,024 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” 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 Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,830 | $15.30 | $26,846 | $2,237 |
| 25th percentile | $39,930 | $19.20 | $33,115 | $2,760 |
| Median (50th) | $45,180 | $21.72 | $37,179 | $3,098 |
| 75th percentile | $56,570 | $27.20 | $45,995 | $3,833 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,250 | $46.27 | $73,732 | $6,144 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,180 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,179 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,851 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 Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,180 | $37,179 | $38,851 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median light truck driver salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $45,180 a year, or about $21.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,930 and $56,570.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $45,180 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $37,179 a year ($3,098 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,303 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,851 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #16 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $65,590
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,980
- Bus Drivers, School — $49,890
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,670
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,180
- Driver/Sales Worker — $40,590
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,120
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,040
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $33,470