Light Truck Driver Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Light Truck Drivers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $45,740 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,528 take-home, or $3,127 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,309
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,836
- Medicare (1.45%)$663
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,404
- Take-home pay$37,528
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,711 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $35,817 ($2,985 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 | $27,080 | $2,257 |
| 25th percentile | $37,800 | $18.17 | $31,392 | $2,616 |
| Median (50th) | $45,740 | $21.99 | $37,528 | $3,127 |
| 75th percentile | $57,860 | $27.82 | $46,894 | $3,908 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,170 | $39.50 | $64,114 | $5,343 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,740 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,528 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,593 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #42 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 |
| 42 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,740 | $37,528 | $36,593 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg, PA — $48,020
- Pittsburgh, PA — $42,700
- Allentown, PA — $43,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median light truck driver salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $45,740 a year, or about $21.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,800 and $57,860.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $45,740 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $37,528 a year ($3,127 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,404 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,593 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #42 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,820
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $59,730
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,370
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,960
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,260
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $43,970
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,460
- Driver/Sales Worker — $37,520
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,800
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $36,760
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,160
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $34,880