Light Truck Driver salary in the U.S.
Light Truck Drivers in the U.S. earn a median of $44,860 a year ($21.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 983,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,310 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $48,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for light truck drivers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 |
| 25th percentile | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Median | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| 75th percentile | $52,310 | $25.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,310 | $38.61 |
| Average (mean) | $48,770 | $23.45 |
Half of light truck drivers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,738.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,869.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,725.38 |
| Weekly | $862.69 |
| Hourly | $21.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Light Truck Driver salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $57,190 | 1,790 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 | 540 |
| Washington | $49,070 | 23,290 |
| Minnesota | $48,880 | 17,360 |
| Colorado | $48,410 | 15,810 |
| Maryland | $48,150 | 18,420 |
| Massachusetts | $48,110 | 23,350 |
| North Dakota | $47,950 | 1,950 |
| Illinois | $47,380 | 47,190 |
| Oregon | $47,150 | 11,120 |
| New Jersey | $46,820 | 33,900 |
| California | $46,790 | 111,950 |
| Montana | $46,420 | 2,960 |
| New York | $46,330 | 56,490 |
| New Hampshire | $46,260 | 4,670 |
| Hawaii | $45,930 | 3,690 |
| Utah | $45,860 | 9,930 |
| Wisconsin | $45,670 | 19,140 |
| Rhode Island | $45,660 | 3,110 |
| Missouri | $45,500 | 16,210 |
| Arizona | $45,140 | 18,400 |
| Vermont | $45,090 | 2,050 |
| Tennessee | $45,050 | 33,710 |
| Indiana | $44,560 | 19,880 |
| Maine | $44,550 | 3,120 |
| Connecticut | $44,500 | 10,720 |
| Idaho | $44,370 | 7,120 |
| Nebraska | $44,120 | 4,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,120 | 42,380 |
| Georgia | $44,050 | 26,050 |
| Delaware | $43,990 | 4,200 |
| Wyoming | $43,780 | 1,450 |
| Nevada | $43,760 | 9,520 |
| Kansas | $43,730 | 9,140 |
| South Dakota | $43,240 | 4,820 |
| Kentucky | $43,230 | 15,630 |
| Michigan | $43,000 | 26,160 |
| Iowa | $42,750 | 9,680 |
| Ohio | $42,600 | 35,130 |
| Texas | $42,500 | 78,540 |
| Virginia | $42,450 | 25,170 |
| New Mexico | $42,360 | 4,220 |
| Florida | $41,810 | 67,390 |
| North Carolina | $39,910 | 31,810 |
| Oklahoma | $39,840 | 10,020 |
| Louisiana | $39,440 | 14,300 |
| West Virginia | $38,860 | 3,330 |
| Alabama | $38,490 | 13,980 |
| Mississippi | $38,140 | 7,030 |
| South Carolina | $37,680 | 11,950 |
| Arkansas | $37,080 | 9,340 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,180 | 80 |
| Guam | $25,100 | 350 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,430 | 5,760 |
Best-paying metro areas for light truck drivers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $57,250 | 1,400 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $53,190 | 1,610 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $52,100 | 4,480 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $50,870 | 390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,820 | 14,470 |
| Kokomo, IN | $50,790 | 280 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $50,480 | 120 |
| Dalton, GA | $50,340 | 350 |
| Boulder, CO | $49,990 | 530 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $49,990 | 3,500 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $49,970 | 250 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $49,670 | 11,560 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $49,630 | 15,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $49,590 | 14,680 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $49,480 | 540 |
Metro areas with the most light truck drivers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 58,140 | $47,440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 40,900 | $46,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 34,680 | $47,950 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 25,890 | $44,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 20,930 | $45,740 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 20,000 | $42,750 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 19,050 | $43,920 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 16,390 | $46,360 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 15,910 | $49,630 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 15,350 | $44,960 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,680 | $49,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 14,470 | $50,820 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 14,380 | $45,560 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 13,820 | $45,790 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 11,940 | $44,970 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Taxi Driver | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3033. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in the U.S.?
The median salary for light truck drivers in the U.S. is $44,860 a year, or $21.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid light truck drivers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of light truck drivers in the U.S. earn at least $80,310 a year. The top 25% earn $52,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for light truck drivers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,800 a year, and a quarter of light truck drivers earn $37,270 or less.
How many light truck drivers work in the U.S.?
About 983,300 light truck drivers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.