Light Truck Driver Salary in Joplin, MO
Light Truck Drivers in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area earn a median $42,050 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,928 take-home, or $2,911 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Joplin, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,866
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,607
- Medicare (1.45%)$610
- Missouri income tax$1,039
- Take-home pay$34,928
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The Joplin, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Joplin, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,650 | $13.77 | $24,791 | $2,066 |
| 25th percentile | $35,330 | $16.99 | $29,844 | $2,487 |
| Median (50th) | $42,050 | $20.22 | $34,928 | $2,911 |
| 75th percentile | $54,280 | $26.10 | $44,180 | $3,682 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,120 | $40.44 | $64,992 | $5,416 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,050 buys in Joplin, MO
Prices in Joplin, MO are 14.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 46% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $34,928 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,748 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 Joplin, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Joplin, MO ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Joplin, MO | $42,050 | $34,928 | $40,748 |
*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
- Kansas City, MO — $45,290
- Columbia, MO — $42,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Joplin, MO?
The median light truck driver salary in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area is $42,050 a year, or about $20.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,330 and $54,280.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Joplin, MO?
On the median $42,050 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $34,928 a year ($2,911 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,039 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Joplin, MO a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 14.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,748 would in a typical U.S. city. Joplin, MO ranks #27 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Joplin, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Joplin, MO is $756 a month ($940 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Joplin, MO
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $47,430
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,990
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,400
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,460