Light Truck Driver Salary in Columbia, MO
Light Truck Drivers in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median $42,710 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,427 take-home, or $2,952 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Columbia, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,945
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,648
- Medicare (1.45%)$619
- Missouri income tax$1,070
- Take-home pay$35,427
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Columbia, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,900 | $13.89 | $24,980 | $2,082 |
| 25th percentile | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,822 | $2,485 |
| Median (50th) | $42,710 | $20.53 | $35,427 | $2,952 |
| 75th percentile | $49,730 | $23.91 | $40,738 | $3,395 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,790 | $45.09 | $71,340 | $5,945 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,710 buys in Columbia, MO
Prices in Columbia, MO are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $35,427 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,611 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 Columbia, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, MO ranks #52 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 |
| 52 | Columbia, MO | $42,710 | $35,427 | $39,611 |
*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 Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $43,800
- St. Louis, MO — $47,150
- Joplin, MO — $42,050
- Kansas City, MO — $45,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Columbia, MO?
The median light truck driver salary in the Columbia, MO metro area is $42,710 a year, or about $20.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,300 and $49,730.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Columbia, MO?
On the median $42,710 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $35,427 a year ($2,952 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,070 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, MO a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,611 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, MO ranks #52 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Columbia, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, MO is $978 a month ($1,138 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $52,820
- Bus Drivers, School — $44,090
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,070
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,720