Light Truck Driver Salary in Madison, WI
Light Truck Drivers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $46,120 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,989 take-home, or $3,166 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,354
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,859
- Medicare (1.45%)$669
- Wisconsin income tax$1,248
- Take-home pay$37,989
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,740 | $15.74 | $27,827 | $2,319 |
| 25th percentile | $40,750 | $19.59 | $33,911 | $2,826 |
| Median (50th) | $46,120 | $22.17 | $37,989 | $3,166 |
| 75th percentile | $57,490 | $27.64 | $46,625 | $3,885 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,260 | $44.84 | $70,876 | $5,906 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,120 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,989 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,049 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 Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | Madison, WI | $46,120 | $37,989 | $39,049 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Oshkosh, WI — $48,220
- La Crosse, WI — $46,510
- Wausau, WI — $45,560
- Green Bay, WI — $45,100
- Eau Claire, WI — $44,400
- Milwaukee, WI — $45,790
- Appleton, WI — $43,120
- Racine, WI — $43,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Madison, WI?
The median light truck driver salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $46,120 a year, or about $22.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,750 and $57,490.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $46,120 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $37,989 a year ($3,166 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,248 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,049 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #64 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,420
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,700
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,450
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,610
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,190
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,710
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,560
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $36,420
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,950
- Driver/Sales Worker — $35,040