Light Truck Driver Salary in Chico, CA
Light Truck Drivers in the Chico, CA metro area earn a median $45,990 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,706 take-home, or $3,142 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Chico, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,339
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,851
- Medicare (1.45%)$667
- California income tax$829
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$598
- Take-home pay$37,706
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Chico, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,470 | $17.05 | $29,811 | $2,484 |
| 25th percentile | $39,210 | $18.85 | $32,618 | $2,718 |
| Median (50th) | $45,990 | $22.11 | $37,706 | $3,142 |
| 75th percentile | $49,980 | $24.03 | $40,641 | $3,387 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,590 | $33.46 | $54,527 | $4,544 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,990 buys in Chico, CA
Prices in Chico, CA are 1.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,706 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,260 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 Chico, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Chico, CA ranks #125 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 |
| 125 | Chico, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $37,260 |
*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 California
- Visalia, CA — $46,720
- San Jose, CA — $52,100
- Santa Rosa, CA — $49,410
- Stockton, CA — $46,570
- Santa Cruz, CA — $48,740
- Redding, CA — $44,120
- San Francisco, CA — $50,820
- Sacramento, CA — $46,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Chico, CA?
The median light truck driver salary in the Chico, CA metro area is $45,990 a year, or about $22.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,210 and $49,980.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Chico, CA?
On the median $45,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,706 a year ($3,142 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,427 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Chico, CA a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 1.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,260 would in a typical U.S. city. Chico, CA ranks #125 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Chico, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chico, CA is $1,270 a month ($1,625 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chico, CA
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,480
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,080
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,180