Light Truck Driver Salary in Rochester, NY
Light Truck Drivers in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median $42,090 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,323 take-home, or $2,860 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Rochester, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,871
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,610
- Medicare (1.45%)$610
- New York income tax$1,676
- Take-home pay$34,323
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Rochester, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $36,070 | $17.34 | $29,811 | $2,484 |
| Median (50th) | $42,090 | $20.24 | $34,323 | $2,860 |
| 75th percentile | $47,950 | $23.05 | $38,716 | $3,226 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,120 | $28.90 | $47,837 | $3,986 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,090 buys in Rochester, NY
Prices in Rochester, NY are 3.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $34,323 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,372 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 Rochester, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, NY ranks #200 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 |
| 200 | Rochester, NY | $42,090 | $34,323 | $35,372 |
*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 New York
- Syracuse, NY — $44,200
- Buffalo, NY — $42,640
- Binghamton, NY — $41,010
- Utica, NY — $39,450
- New York, NY — $47,440
- Albany, NY — $41,360
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $45,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Rochester, NY?
The median light truck driver salary in the Rochester, NY metro area is $42,090 a year, or about $20.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,070 and $47,950.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Rochester, NY?
On the median $42,090 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $34,323 a year ($2,860 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,676 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 3.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,372 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, NY ranks #200 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, NY is $1,256 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,740
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $62,420
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,920
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,780
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,210
- Driver/Sales Worker — $44,760
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,050
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,940
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $36,220
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,210
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,180