Light Truck Driver Salary in Appleton, WI
Light Truck Drivers in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median $43,120 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,711 take-home, or $2,976 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Appleton, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,994
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,673
- Medicare (1.45%)$625
- Wisconsin income tax$1,116
- Take-home pay$35,711
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Appleton, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,490 | $15.14 | $26,878 | $2,240 |
| 25th percentile | $39,840 | $19.15 | $33,220 | $2,768 |
| Median (50th) | $43,120 | $20.73 | $35,711 | $2,976 |
| 75th percentile | $50,200 | $24.13 | $41,088 | $3,424 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,250 | $29.93 | $50,240 | $4,187 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,120 buys in Appleton, WI
Prices in Appleton, WI are 7.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $35,711 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,640 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 Appleton, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Appleton, WI ranks #78 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 |
| 78 | Appleton, WI | $43,120 | $35,711 | $38,640 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Oshkosh, WI — $48,220
- La Crosse, WI — $46,510
- Wausau, WI — $45,560
- Green Bay, WI — $45,100
- Eau Claire, WI — $44,400
- Madison, WI — $46,120
- Milwaukee, WI — $45,790
- Racine, WI — $43,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Appleton, WI?
The median light truck driver salary in the Appleton, WI metro area is $43,120 a year, or about $20.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,840 and $50,200.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Appleton, WI?
On the median $43,120 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $35,711 a year ($2,976 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,116 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Appleton, WI a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 7.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,640 would in a typical U.S. city. Appleton, WI ranks #78 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Appleton, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Appleton, WI is $960 a month ($1,236 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,340
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,730
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,540
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,610
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,440
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,460
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,430
- Driver/Sales Worker — $27,590