Light Truck Driver Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Light Truck Drivers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $45,790 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,739 take-home, or $3,145 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,315
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,839
- Medicare (1.45%)$664
- Wisconsin income tax$1,234
- Take-home pay$37,739
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,470 | $15.61 | $27,622 | $2,302 |
| 25th percentile | $39,170 | $18.83 | $32,711 | $2,726 |
| Median (50th) | $45,790 | $22.01 | $37,739 | $3,145 |
| 75th percentile | $50,340 | $24.20 | $41,194 | $3,433 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,040 | $33.19 | $55,121 | $4,593 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,790 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,739 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,931 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI has 1.2× the national concentration of light truck driver jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,790 | $37,739 | $38,931 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $46,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median light truck driver salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $45,790 a year, or about $22.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,170 and $50,340.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $45,790 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $37,739 a year ($3,145 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,234 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,931 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #15 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,100
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,580
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,780
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,840
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,070
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,470
- Driver/Sales Worker — $22,350