Light Truck Driver Salary in Portland, OR
Light Truck Drivers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $47,720 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,177 take-home, or $3,098 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,546
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,959
- Medicare (1.45%)$692
- Oregon income tax$3,346
- Take-home pay$37,177
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,950 | $18.25 | $30,182 | $2,515 |
| 25th percentile | $44,470 | $21.38 | $34,850 | $2,904 |
| Median (50th) | $47,720 | $22.94 | $37,177 | $3,098 |
| 75th percentile | $57,480 | $27.63 | $44,165 | $3,680 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,180 | $37.11 | $57,203 | $4,767 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,720 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,177 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,265 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Portland, OR | $47,720 | $37,177 | $35,265 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Portland, OR?
The median light truck driver salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $47,720 a year, or about $22.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,470 and $57,480.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $47,720 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $37,177 a year ($3,098 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,346 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,265 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #59 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,830
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,800
- Bus Drivers, School — $62,190
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $52,120
- Driver/Sales Worker — $46,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,100
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,440
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $39,220
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,450
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $36,420