Light truck drivers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,800 | $14.81 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Mean (average) | $48,770 | $23.45 |
| 90th percentile | $80,310 | $38.61 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Light truck drivers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,490 | $27,100 | $78,240 | 13,980 | 1.05 |
| Alaska | $57,190 | $37,210 | $96,300 | 1,790 | 0.87 |
| Arizona | $45,140 | $34,660 | $92,590 | 18,400 | 0.9 |
| Arkansas | $37,080 | $27,100 | $72,880 | 9,340 | 1.13 |
| California | $46,790 | $36,750 | $93,280 | 111,950 | 0.97 |
| Colorado | $48,410 | $37,230 | $82,220 | 15,810 | 0.87 |
| Connecticut | $44,500 | $34,010 | $74,420 | 10,720 | 1 |
| Delaware | $43,990 | $31,200 | $65,150 | 4,200 | 1.37 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 | $37,890 | $69,400 | 540 | 0.12 |
| Florida | $41,810 | $29,880 | $62,330 | 67,390 | 1.07 |
| Georgia | $44,050 | $28,020 | $82,790 | 26,050 | 0.84 |
| Guam | $25,100 | $21,890 | $32,820 | 350 | 0.83 |
| Hawaii | $45,930 | $34,740 | $85,100 | 3,690 | 0.93 |
| Idaho | $44,370 | $31,950 | $95,830 | 7,120 | 1.31 |
| Illinois | $47,380 | $33,130 | $91,360 | 47,190 | 1.22 |
| Indiana | $44,560 | $29,330 | $92,080 | 19,880 | 0.98 |
| Iowa | $42,750 | $29,600 | $92,460 | 9,680 | 0.98 |
| Kansas | $43,730 | $27,410 | $70,620 | 9,140 | 1.01 |
| Kentucky | $43,230 | $26,780 | $84,040 | 15,630 | 1.24 |
| Louisiana | $39,440 | $25,330 | $76,360 | 14,300 | 1.17 |
| Maine | $44,550 | $31,310 | $93,670 | 3,120 | 0.77 |
| Maryland | $48,150 | $33,710 | $80,700 | 18,420 | 1.05 |
| Massachusetts | $48,110 | $34,700 | $75,340 | 23,350 | 1.02 |
| Michigan | $43,000 | $29,470 | $83,460 | 26,160 | 0.94 |
| Minnesota | $48,880 | $31,490 | $90,340 | 17,360 | 0.93 |
| Mississippi | $38,140 | $25,880 | $90,840 | 7,030 | 0.96 |
| Missouri | $45,500 | $29,370 | $93,710 | 16,210 | 0.87 |
| Montana | $46,420 | $33,470 | $93,770 | 2,960 | 0.91 |
| Nebraska | $44,120 | $29,710 | $92,370 | 4,210 | 0.65 |
| Nevada | $43,760 | $31,270 | $69,690 | 9,520 | 0.97 |
| New Hampshire | $46,260 | $30,640 | $63,770 | 4,670 | 1.08 |
| New Jersey | $46,820 | $34,750 | $71,070 | 33,900 | 1.25 |
| New Mexico | $42,360 | $30,590 | $58,320 | 4,220 | 0.77 |
| New York | $46,330 | $34,070 | $72,890 | 56,490 | 0.92 |
| North Carolina | $39,910 | $26,490 | $61,340 | 31,810 | 1.02 |
| North Dakota | $47,950 | $33,750 | $92,440 | 1,950 | 0.72 |
| Ohio | $42,600 | $27,460 | $63,740 | 35,130 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | $39,840 | $24,960 | $91,780 | 10,020 | 0.93 |
| Oregon | $47,150 | $36,680 | $73,070 | 11,120 | 0.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,120 | $27,560 | $82,170 | 42,380 | 1.1 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,430 | $21,840 | $32,310 | 5,760 | 0.97 |
| Rhode Island | $45,660 | $31,200 | $72,810 | 3,110 | 0.98 |
| South Carolina | $37,680 | $23,500 | $62,870 | 11,950 | 0.82 |
| South Dakota | $43,240 | $27,520 | $59,400 | 4,820 | 1.67 |
| Tennessee | $45,050 | $29,190 | $83,480 | 33,710 | 1.63 |
| Texas | $42,500 | $28,120 | $91,280 | 78,540 | 0.88 |
| Utah | $45,860 | $33,970 | $64,670 | 9,930 | 0.9 |
| Vermont | $45,090 | $30,720 | $65,130 | 2,050 | 1.07 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,180 | $26,830 | $49,480 | 80 | 0.41 |
| Virginia | $42,450 | $28,740 | $63,770 | 25,170 | 0.97 |
| Washington | $49,070 | $37,890 | $74,080 | 23,290 | 1.04 |
| West Virginia | $38,860 | $23,950 | $93,790 | 3,330 | 0.75 |
| Wisconsin | $45,670 | $30,340 | $72,860 | 19,140 | 1.03 |
| Wyoming | $43,780 | $27,530 | $94,640 | 1,450 | 0.81 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for light truck drivers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 107,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 7.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for light truck drivers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
- Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
- Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
- Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition.
- Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
- Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
- Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
- Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Automatic routing software
- Computerized inventory tracking software
- Eko
- FreightDATA
- IBM Domino
- Inventory management systems
- Package location and tracking software
- Recordkeeping software
- Vehicle location and tracking software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Bulk Delivery Driver, Delivery Driver, Driver, Light Truck Driver, Package Car Driver, Package Delivery Driver, Route Driver, Service Provider, Truck Driver, Warehouse Driver.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do light truck drivers make?
The national median annual wage for light truck drivers was $44,860 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $30,800 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $80,310. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do light truck drivers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is light truck drivers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of light truck drivers to change +6.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 107,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay light truck drivers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($57,190), District of Columbia ($49,330), Washington ($49,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.