Light Truck Driver Salary in Detroit, MI
Light Truck Drivers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $44,200 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,067 take-home, or $3,006 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,124
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,740
- Medicare (1.45%)$641
- Michigan income tax$1,628
- Take-home pay$36,067
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,061 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $35,006 ($2,917 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,750 | $14.30 | $25,071 | $2,089 |
| 25th percentile | $37,910 | $18.23 | $31,280 | $2,607 |
| Median (50th) | $44,200 | $21.25 | $36,067 | $3,006 |
| 75th percentile | $47,970 | $23.06 | $38,936 | $3,245 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,800 | $39.81 | $63,812 | $5,318 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,200 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $36,067 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,960 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #51 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 |
| 51 | Detroit, MI | $44,200 | $36,067 | $35,960 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 75 metros →
About the job: light truck drivers
Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Light Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Grand Rapids, MI — $43,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Detroit, MI?
The median light truck driver salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $44,200 a year, or about $21.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,910 and $47,970.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $44,200 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $36,067 a year ($3,006 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,628 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,960 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #51 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,670
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,120
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,550
- Driver/Sales Worker — $40,630
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,330
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,720
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $36,390
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,120
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $34,780