Light Truck Driver Salary in Durham, NC
Light Truck Drivers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $40,730 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,790 take-home, or $2,816 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,708
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,525
- Medicare (1.45%)$591
- North Carolina income tax$1,116
- Take-home pay$33,790
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.52 | $24,161 | $2,013 |
| 25th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 | $30,995 | $2,583 |
| Median (50th) | $40,730 | $19.58 | $33,790 | $2,816 |
| 75th percentile | $46,450 | $22.33 | $38,158 | $3,180 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,030 | $27.90 | $47,000 | $3,917 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,730 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $33,790 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,631 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 Durham, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #228 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 |
| 228 | Durham, NC | $40,730 | $33,790 | $34,631 |
*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 North Carolina
- Greenville, NC — $39,470
- Charlotte, NC — $42,860
- Greensboro, NC — $40,650
- Hickory, NC — $38,070
- Fayetteville, NC — $39,160
- Asheville, NC — $40,980
- Winston, NC — $38,360
- Raleigh, NC — $39,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Durham, NC?
The median light truck driver salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $40,730 a year, or about $19.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,070 and $46,450.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $40,730 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $33,790 a year ($2,816 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,116 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,631 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #228 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,000
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $53,280
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $46,460
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,090
- Bus Drivers, School — $40,650
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,750
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,410
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,220
- Driver/Sales Worker — $30,970