Light Truck Driver Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Light Truck Drivers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $41,710 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,868 take-home, or $2,906 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,825
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,586
- Medicare (1.45%)$605
- New Mexico income tax$826
- Take-home pay$34,868
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,050 | $14.93 | $26,744 | $2,229 |
| 25th percentile | $35,310 | $16.98 | $30,001 | $2,500 |
| Median (50th) | $41,710 | $20.05 | $34,868 | $2,906 |
| 75th percentile | $46,890 | $22.54 | $38,807 | $3,234 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,200 | $29.90 | $50,400 | $4,200 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,710 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $34,868 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,493 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 less concentrated in Albuquerque, NM than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #157 of 265 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 | Anchorage, AK | $57,250 | $48,180 | $45,703 |
| 3 | Hagerstown, MD | $53,190 | $42,755 | $45,402 |
| 4 | Memphis, TN | $48,350 | $41,029 | $44,510 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $47,170 | $40,081 | $44,108 |
| 6 | Jackson, TN | $43,660 | $37,261 | $43,569 |
| 7 | Decatur, IL | $47,660 | $38,260 | $43,270 |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $46,330 | $37,746 | $43,073 |
| 157 | Albuquerque, NM | $41,710 | $34,868 | $36,493 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 265 metros →
Light Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in New Mexico
- Las Cruces, NM — $36,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median light truck driver salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $41,710 a year, or about $20.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,310 and $46,890.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $41,710 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $34,868 a year ($2,906 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $826 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,493 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #157 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $62,150
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $56,210
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $55,840
- Bus Drivers, School — $45,470
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $37,470
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,230
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,240
- Driver/Sales Worker — $35,520
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $32,430
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $31,250