Light Truck Driver Salary in Columbus, GA
Light Truck Drivers in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median $36,330 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,108 take-home, or $2,509 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Columbus, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,252
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- Georgia income tax$1,263
- Take-home pay$30,108
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
The Columbus, GA-AL metro spans Georgia, Alabama. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Columbus, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,100 | $12.07 | $21,600 | $1,800 |
| 25th percentile | $30,310 | $14.57 | $25,584 | $2,132 |
| Median (50th) | $36,330 | $17.47 | $30,108 | $2,509 |
| 75th percentile | $42,310 | $20.34 | $34,603 | $2,884 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,980 | $24.03 | $40,368 | $3,364 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,330 buys in Columbus, GA
Prices in Columbus, GA are 10.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 39% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $30,108 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,718 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 less concentrated in Columbus, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, GA ranks #248 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 |
| 248 | Columbus, GA | $36,330 | $30,108 | $33,718 |
*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 Georgia
- Macon, GA — $45,130
- Gainesville, GA — $48,010
- Athens, GA — $45,800
- Savannah, GA — $44,150
- Augusta, GA — $41,100
- Atlanta, GA — $44,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Columbus, GA?
The median light truck driver salary in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $36,330 a year, or about $17.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,310 and $42,310.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Columbus, GA?
On the median $36,330 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $30,108 a year ($2,509 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,263 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, GA a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 10.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,718 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, GA ranks #248 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Columbus, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, GA is $936 a month ($1,084 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $47,570
- Bus Drivers, School — $44,950
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $37,450
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,910
- Stocker and Order Filler — $31,690