Light Truck Driver Salary in San Francisco, CA
Light Truck Drivers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $50,820 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,255 take-home, or $3,438 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,918
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,151
- Medicare (1.45%)$737
- California income tax$1,099
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$661
- Take-home pay$41,255
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,300 | $20.34 | $34,937 | $2,911 |
| 25th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 | $38,895 | $3,241 |
| Median (50th) | $50,820 | $24.43 | $41,255 | $3,438 |
| 75th percentile | $62,050 | $29.83 | $49,458 | $4,122 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,280 | $44.85 | $68,794 | $5,733 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,820 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $41,255 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,683 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 Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #53 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 |
| 53 | San Francisco, CA | $50,820 | $41,255 | $35,683 |
*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
- Sacramento, CA — $46,340
- Riverside, CA — $45,560
- Fresno, CA — $43,170
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,500
- San Diego, CA — $45,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in San Francisco, CA?
The median light truck driver salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $50,820 a year, or about $24.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,590 and $62,050.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $50,820 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $41,255 a year ($3,438 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,759 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,683 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #53 of 75 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 76% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Flight Attendant — $89,430
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $78,900
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $73,950
- Bus Drivers, School — $73,680
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $66,450
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $59,240
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $48,400
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $48,370
- Stocker and Order Filler — $45,130
- Parking Attendant — $44,480
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $44,350