Light Truck Driver Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Light Truck Drivers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $46,500 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,089 take-home, or $3,174 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,400
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,883
- Medicare (1.45%)$674
- California income tax$849
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$605
- Take-home pay$38,089
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,650 | $18.10 | $31,447 | $2,621 |
| 25th percentile | $42,660 | $20.51 | $35,207 | $2,934 |
| Median (50th) | $46,500 | $22.36 | $38,089 | $3,174 |
| 75th percentile | $57,340 | $27.57 | $46,017 | $3,835 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,630 | $45.98 | $70,199 | $5,850 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,500 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $38,089 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,539 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #72 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 |
| 72 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,500 | $38,089 | $33,539 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 75 metros →
Light Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $52,100
- Stockton, CA — $46,570
- San Francisco, CA — $50,820
- Sacramento, CA — $46,340
- Riverside, CA — $45,560
- Fresno, CA — $43,170
- San Diego, CA — $45,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median light truck driver salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $46,500 a year, or about $22.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,660 and $57,340.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $46,500 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,089 a year ($3,174 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,454 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,539 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #72 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Flight Attendant — $79,390
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $68,020
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $62,490
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,190
- Bus Drivers, School — $61,580
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,340
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,600
- Driver/Sales Worker — $45,220
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $44,460
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,390
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $39,070