$ PaycheckDecoded

Light Truck Driver Salary

Light Truck Drivers earn a median $44,860 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$44,860
$21.57 per hour
Range
$30,800 – $80,310
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
983,300
across the U.S.

Light Truck Driver take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Light Truck Driver
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$38,225
per year · effective tax rate 14.8%
$3,185Monthly
$1,593Twice a month
$1,470Every 2 weeks
$18.38Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,203
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,781
  • Medicare (1.45%)$650
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$38,225

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$30,800$14.81$26,928
25th percentile$37,270$17.92$32,126
Median (50th)$44,860$21.57$38,225
75th percentile$52,310$25.15$44,211
90th percentile (top earners)$80,310$38.61$65,328

Best cities for light truck drivers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Chattanooga, TN$49,990$42,347$46,2993,500
2Anchorage, AK$57,250$48,180$45,7031,400
3Hagerstown, MD$53,190$42,755$45,4021,610
4Memphis, TN$48,350$41,029$44,5108,190
5Fargo, ND$47,170$40,081$44,108810
6Jackson, TN$43,660$37,261$43,569630
7Decatur, IL$47,660$38,260$43,270680
8St. Cloud, MN$46,330$37,746$43,073850
9Davenport, IA$46,200$38,198$42,8811,180
10Elkhart, IN$46,950$38,549$42,678590
11Oshkosh, WI$48,220$39,584$42,596540
12Rochester, MN$47,460$38,594$42,494550
13Rockford, IL$48,240$38,698$41,9921,350
14Midland, TX$47,330$40,210$41,980540
15Killeen, TX$44,750$38,137$41,848640
16La Crosse, WI$46,510$38,285$41,719620
17Duluth, MN$45,100$36,824$41,483810
18Macon, GA$45,130$36,723$41,481600
19Champaign, IL$47,910$38,449$41,475820
20Rapid City, SD$43,250$36,931$41,421800
21Sioux City, IA$43,080$35,810$41,420440
22Louisville, KY$47,150$38,532$41,4006,340
23Kingsport, TN$41,590$35,598$41,1781,000
24Springfield, MO$43,800$36,252$40,9231,570
25St. Louis, MO$47,150$38,786$40,7907,180

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Light Truck Driver salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
Alaska $57,190$48,132 $37,210 – $96,3001,790
District of Columbia $49,330$40,023 $37,890 – $69,400540
Washington $49,070$41,608 $37,890 – $74,08023,290
Minnesota $48,880$39,655 $31,490 – $90,34017,360
Colorado $48,410$39,656 $37,230 – $82,22015,810
Maryland $48,150$38,945 $33,710 – $80,70018,420
Massachusetts $48,110$38,651 $34,700 – $75,34023,350
North Dakota $47,950$40,708 $33,750 – $92,4401,950
Illinois $47,380$38,049 $33,130 – $91,36047,190
Oregon $47,150$36,769 $36,680 – $73,07011,120
New Jersey $46,820$38,761 $34,750 – $71,07033,900
California $46,790$38,307 $36,750 – $93,280111,950
Montana $46,420$38,053 $33,470 – $93,7702,960
New York $46,330$37,501 $34,070 – $72,89056,490
New Hampshire $46,260$39,350 $30,640 – $63,7704,670
Hawaii $45,930$37,094 $34,740 – $85,1003,690
Utah $45,860$37,931 $33,970 – $64,6709,930
Wisconsin $45,670$37,647 $30,340 – $72,86019,140
Rhode Island $45,660$37,772 $31,200 – $72,8103,110
Missouri $45,500$37,538 $29,370 – $93,71016,210
Arizona $45,140$37,530 $34,660 – $92,59018,400
Vermont $45,090$37,333 $30,720 – $65,1302,050
Tennessee $45,050$38,378 $29,190 – $83,48033,710
Indiana $44,560$36,699 $29,330 – $92,08019,880
Maine $44,550$36,150 $31,310 – $93,6703,120
Connecticut $44,500$36,858 $34,010 – $74,42010,720
Idaho $44,370$36,588 $31,950 – $95,8307,120
Nebraska $44,120$36,503 $29,710 – $92,3704,210
Pennsylvania $44,120$36,276 $27,560 – $82,17042,380
Georgia $44,050$35,911 $28,020 – $82,79026,050
Delaware $43,990$35,761 $31,200 – $65,1504,200
Wyoming $43,780$37,357 $27,530 – $94,6401,450
Nevada $43,760$37,341 $31,270 – $69,6909,520
Kansas $43,730$35,677 $27,410 – $70,6209,140
South Dakota $43,240$36,923 $27,520 – $59,4004,820
Kentucky $43,230$35,520 $26,780 – $84,04015,630
Michigan $43,000$35,154 $29,470 – $83,46026,160
Iowa $42,750$35,557 $29,600 – $92,4609,680
Ohio $42,600$36,020 $27,460 – $63,74035,130
Texas $42,500$36,329 $28,120 – $91,28078,540
Virginia $42,450$34,662 $28,740 – $63,77025,170
New Mexico $42,360$35,362 $30,590 – $58,3204,220
Florida $41,810$35,774 $29,880 – $62,33067,390
North Carolina $39,910$33,164 $26,490 – $61,34031,810
Oklahoma $39,840$32,944 $24,960 – $91,78010,020
Louisiana $39,440$33,073 $25,330 – $76,36014,300
West Virginia $38,860$32,343 $23,950 – $93,7903,330
Alabama $38,490$31,447 $27,100 – $78,24013,980
Mississippi $38,140$32,032 $25,880 – $90,8407,030
South Carolina $37,680$31,352 $23,500 – $62,87011,950
Arkansas $37,080$30,740 $27,100 – $72,8809,340

Frequently asked questions

How much does a light truck driver make?

The national median salary for light truck drivers is $44,860 a year ($21.57 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,800 and the top 10% earn over $80,310. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays light truck drivers the most?

Alaska has the highest median pay at $57,190. After taxes and local prices, Chattanooga, TN offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many light truck drivers are there in the U.S.?

About 983,300 people work as light truck drivers nationwide.

All 265 cities