Light Truck Driver Salary in Buffalo, NY
Light Truck Drivers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $42,640 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,736 take-home, or $2,895 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,937
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,644
- Medicare (1.45%)$618
- New York income tax$1,706
- Take-home pay$34,736
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $35,050 | $16.85 | $29,047 | $2,421 |
| Median (50th) | $42,640 | $20.50 | $34,736 | $2,895 |
| 75th percentile | $47,950 | $23.05 | $38,716 | $3,226 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,230 | $30.88 | $50,917 | $4,243 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,640 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $34,736 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,242 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buffalo, NY has 1.3× 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
Buffalo, NY ranks #166 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 |
| 166 | Buffalo, NY | $42,640 | $34,736 | $36,242 |
*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 York
- Syracuse, NY — $44,200
- Binghamton, NY — $41,010
- Rochester, NY — $42,090
- Utica, NY — $39,450
- New York, NY — $47,440
- Albany, NY — $41,360
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $45,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Buffalo, NY?
The median light truck driver salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $42,640 a year, or about $20.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,050 and $47,950.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $42,640 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $34,736 a year ($2,895 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,706 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,242 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #166 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,160
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,440
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,500
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,630
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,130
- Driver/Sales Worker — $39,300
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,970
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,680
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $35,390
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $34,540