Light Truck Driver salary in Texas
Light Truck Drivers in Texas earn a median of $42,500 a year ($20.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 78,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,280 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $44,860. Texas ranks 40th of 51 states for light truck drivers pay. There are 5.6 light truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $46,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for light truck drivers in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,120 | $13.52 |
| 25th percentile | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Median | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| 75th percentile | $50,170 | $24.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,280 | $43.88 |
| Average (mean) | $46,950 | $22.57 |
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 | $3,541.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,770.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,634.62 |
| Weekly | $817.31 |
| Hourly | $20.43 |
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 in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $47,330 | 540 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $45,820 | 6,380 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $44,750 | 640 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $44,050 | 25,890 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,920 | 19,050 |
| Waco, TX | $42,640 | 660 |
| Odessa, TX | $42,160 | 480 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $41,880 | 780 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $41,600 | 7,010 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $39,000 | 250 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $38,820 | 790 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $38,800 | 440 |
| Amarillo, TX | $38,560 | 670 |
| Abilene, TX | $38,090 | 400 |
| Tyler, TX | $38,090 | 830 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $37,560 | 310 |
| Victoria, TX | $37,530 | 280 |
| Lubbock, TX | $37,300 | 1,100 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $37,250 | 520 |
| San Angelo, TX | $36,570 | 230 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $36,320 | 80 |
| El Paso, TX | $36,030 | 1,990 |
| Laredo, TX | $35,770 | 850 |
| Longview, TX | $35,770 | 440 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $35,360 | 580 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $35,350 | 1,610 |
Highest-paying states for light truck drivers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $57,190 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 |
| Washington | $49,070 |
| Minnesota | $48,880 |
| Colorado | $48,410 |
| Maryland | $48,150 |
| Massachusetts | $48,110 |
| North Dakota | $47,950 |
| Illinois | $47,380 |
| Oregon | $47,150 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,290 | $27.06 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $35,600 | $17.11 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $31,010 | $14.91 |
| Taxi Driver | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,000 | $28.84 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,450 | $14.16 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for light truck drivers in Texas is $42,500 a year, or $20.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid light truck drivers make in Texas?
The top 10% of light truck drivers in Texas earn at least $91,280 a year. The top 25% earn $50,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for light truck drivers in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,120 a year, and a quarter of light truck drivers earn $34,800 or less.
How many light truck drivers work in Texas?
About 78,540 light truck drivers are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.