Light Truck Driver Salary in New York, NY
Light Truck Drivers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $47,440 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,333 take-home, or $3,194 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,513
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$688
- New York income tax$1,965
- Take-home pay$38,333
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,410 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,923 ($3,077 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,150 | $17.38 | $29,871 | $2,489 |
| 25th percentile | $44,480 | $21.38 | $36,115 | $3,010 |
| Median (50th) | $47,440 | $22.81 | $38,333 | $3,194 |
| 75th percentile | $57,770 | $27.77 | $46,076 | $3,840 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,360 | $36.71 | $59,023 | $4,919 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,440 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $38,333 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,055 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #69 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 |
| 69 | New York, NY | $47,440 | $38,333 | $34,055 |
*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 New York
- Syracuse, NY — $44,200
- Buffalo, NY — $42,640
- Rochester, NY — $42,090
- Albany, NY — $41,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in New York, NY?
The median light truck driver salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $47,440 a year, or about $22.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,480 and $57,770.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $47,440 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $38,333 a year ($3,194 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,965 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,055 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #69 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 74% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
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- Flight Attendant — $127,740
- Transportation Inspector — $93,420
- Subway and Streetcar Operator — $90,140
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster — $80,000
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $78,130
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $71,510
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $65,310
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $65,040
- Bus Drivers, School — $59,790
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,930
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other — $45,850