Light Truck Driver Salary in Topeka, KS
Light Truck Drivers in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median $42,970 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,108 take-home, or $2,926 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median light truck driver salary in Topeka, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,976
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,664
- Medicare (1.45%)$623
- Kansas income tax$1,598
- Take-home pay$35,108
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.58% state
Light Truck Driver pay by experience in Topeka, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,240 | $12.62 | $22,518 | $1,876 |
| 25th percentile | $33,630 | $16.17 | $28,117 | $2,343 |
| Median (50th) | $42,970 | $20.66 | $35,108 | $2,926 |
| 75th percentile | $48,980 | $23.55 | $39,602 | $3,300 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,830 | $30.69 | $50,705 | $4,225 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,970 buys in Topeka, KS
Prices in Topeka, KS are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median light truck driver's $35,108 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,528 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 Topeka, KS as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for light truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Topeka, KS ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | Topeka, KS | $42,970 | $35,108 | $39,528 |
*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 Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $40,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Topeka, KS?
The median light truck driver salary in the Topeka, KS metro area is $42,970 a year, or about $20.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,630 and $48,980.
What is a light truck driver’s take-home pay in Topeka, KS?
On the median $42,970 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $35,108 a year ($2,926 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,598 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Topeka, KS a good place to work as a light truck driver?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $44,860. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Topeka, KS ranks #56 of 265 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a light truck driver afford rent in Topeka, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Topeka, KS is $820 a month ($1,057 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median light truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Topeka, KS
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $63,600
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,870
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,440
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $49,140
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,980
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,940
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $31,260