Light Truck Driver Salary in St. Louis, MO
Light Truck Drivers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $47,150 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,786 take-home, or $3,232 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,478
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,923
- Medicare (1.45%)$684
- Missouri income tax$1,279
- Take-home pay$38,786
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $472 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $38,315 ($3,193 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,720 | $2,227 |
| 25th percentile | $40,090 | $19.27 | $33,445 | $2,787 |
| Median (50th) | $47,150 | $22.67 | $38,786 | $3,232 |
| 75th percentile | $59,280 | $28.50 | $47,963 | $3,997 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,710 | $45.05 | $71,288 | $5,941 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,150 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $38,786 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,790 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #4 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 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $45,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in St. Louis, MO?
The median light truck driver salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $47,150 a year, or about $22.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,090 and $59,280.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $47,150 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $38,786 a year ($3,232 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,279 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,790 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #4 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,790
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,240
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,100
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,780
- Driver/Sales Worker — $40,240
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,840
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,280
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,220