Light Truck Driver Salary in Charlotte, NC
Light Truck Drivers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $42,860 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,417 take-home, or $2,951 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,963
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,657
- Medicare (1.45%)$621
- North Carolina income tax$1,201
- Take-home pay$35,417
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.52 | $24,161 | $2,013 |
| 25th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 | $30,117 | $2,510 |
| Median (50th) | $42,860 | $20.61 | $35,417 | $2,951 |
| 75th percentile | $48,430 | $23.28 | $39,670 | $3,306 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,470 | $31.00 | $51,918 | $4,327 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,860 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $35,417 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,381 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 Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #46 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 |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $42,860 | $35,417 | $36,381 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 75 metros →
Light Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $40,650
- Raleigh, NC — $39,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Charlotte, NC?
The median light truck driver salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $42,860 a year, or about $20.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,920 and $48,430.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $42,860 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $35,417 a year ($2,951 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,201 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,381 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #46 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $63,470
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,120
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,020
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $43,880
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,850
- Driver/Sales Worker — $37,830
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,440
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,030
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $31,260