Light Truck Driver Salary in San Diego, CA
Light Truck Drivers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $45,670 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,466 take-home, or $3,122 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,300
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,832
- Medicare (1.45%)$662
- California income tax$816
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$594
- Take-home pay$37,466
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,730 | $17.66 | $30,757 | $2,563 |
| 25th percentile | $40,810 | $19.62 | $33,819 | $2,818 |
| Median (50th) | $45,670 | $21.96 | $37,466 | $3,122 |
| 75th percentile | $51,400 | $24.71 | $41,678 | $3,473 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,840 | $39.83 | $62,556 | $5,213 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,670 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $37,466 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,486 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #73 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 |
| 73 | San Diego, CA | $45,670 | $37,466 | $33,486 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $52,100
- Stockton, CA — $46,570
- San Francisco, CA — $50,820
- Sacramento, CA — $46,340
- Riverside, CA — $45,560
- Fresno, CA — $43,170
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in San Diego, CA?
The median light truck driver salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $45,670 a year, or about $21.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,810 and $51,400.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $45,670 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,466 a year ($3,122 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,410 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,486 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #73 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 79% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,590
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,780
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,370
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $43,670
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,320
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,160
- Parking Attendant — $37,960
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $37,120
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,890