Light Truck Drivers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for light truck driverss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $48,770 ≈ $23/hr
National median salary $44,860
Total employment 983,300 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +7.3%
Faster than average
Annual openings 120,200 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 1,079,800 → 1,158,600 (+78,900)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Alaska$62,940
- Washington$53,520
- California$53,310
- Illinois$53,300
- Maryland$52,930
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- South Carolina$41,510
- North Carolina$42,660
- New Mexico$43,090
- Arkansas$43,670
- Alabama$43,930
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $62,940 | $57,190 | $30 | +29.1% | 1,790 |
| 2 | Washington | $53,520 | $49,070 | $26 | +9.7% | 23,290 |
| 3 | California | $53,310 | $46,790 | $26 | +9.3% | 111,950 |
| 4 | Illinois | $53,300 | $47,380 | $26 | +9.3% | 47,190 |
| 5 | Maryland | $52,930 | $48,150 | $25 | +8.5% | 18,420 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $52,860 | $48,880 | $25 | +8.4% | 17,360 |
| 7 | Colorado | $52,270 | $48,410 | $25 | +7.2% | 15,810 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $51,940 | $47,950 | $25 | +6.5% | 1,950 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $51,920 | $49,330 | $25 | +6.5% | 540 |
| 10 | Oregon | $51,440 | $47,150 | $25 | +5.5% | 11,120 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $51,410 | $48,110 | $25 | +5.4% | 23,350 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $51,340 | $45,930 | $25 | +5.3% | 3,690 |
| 13 | Arizona | $50,900 | $45,140 | $24 | +4.4% | 18,400 |
| 14 | Idaho | $50,700 | $44,370 | $24 | +4% | 7,120 |
| 15 | Montana | $50,550 | $46,420 | $24 | +3.6% | 2,960 |
| 16 | New York | $50,330 | $46,330 | $24 | +3.2% | 56,490 |
| 17 | Missouri | $50,300 | $45,500 | $24 | +3.1% | 16,210 |
| 18 | Maine | $49,820 | $44,550 | $24 | +2.2% | 3,120 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $49,810 | $46,820 | $24 | +2.1% | 33,900 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $49,580 | $45,660 | $24 | +1.7% | 3,110 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $49,430 | $44,500 | $24 | +1.4% | 10,720 |
| 22 | Indiana | $49,150 | $44,560 | $24 | +0.8% | 19,880 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $49,120 | $45,050 | $24 | +0.7% | 33,710 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $48,880 | $43,230 | $24 | +0.2% | 15,630 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $48,720 | $44,120 | $23 | -0.1% | 4,210 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $48,570 | $45,670 | $23 | -0.4% | 19,140 |
| 27 | Vermont | $48,430 | $45,090 | $23 | -0.7% | 2,050 |
| 28 | Georgia | $48,290 | $44,050 | $23 | -1% | 26,050 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $48,040 | $46,260 | $23 | -1.5% | 4,670 |
| 30 | Utah | $47,920 | $45,860 | $23 | -1.7% | 9,930 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $47,870 | $44,120 | $23 | -1.8% | 42,380 |
| 32 | Nevada | $47,610 | $43,760 | $23 | -2.4% | 9,520 |
| 33 | Texas | $46,950 | $42,500 | $23 | -3.7% | 78,540 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $46,940 | $38,140 | $23 | -3.8% | 7,030 |
| 35 | Michigan | $46,720 | $43,000 | $22 | -4.2% | 26,160 |
| 36 | Iowa | $46,700 | $42,750 | $22 | -4.2% | 9,680 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $46,620 | $43,780 | $22 | -4.4% | 1,450 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $46,530 | $38,860 | $22 | -4.6% | 3,330 |
| 39 | Delaware | $46,480 | $43,990 | $22 | -4.7% | 4,200 |
| 40 | Kansas | $45,930 | $43,730 | $22 | -5.8% | 9,140 |
| 41 | Virginia | $45,390 | $42,450 | $22 | -6.9% | 25,170 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $45,250 | $39,840 | $22 | -7.2% | 10,020 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $44,940 | $39,440 | $22 | -7.9% | 14,300 |
| 44 | Florida | $44,580 | $41,810 | $21 | -8.6% | 67,390 |
| 45 | Ohio | $44,230 | $42,600 | $21 | -9.3% | 35,130 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $44,100 | $43,240 | $21 | -9.6% | 4,820 |
| 47 | Alabama | $43,930 | $38,490 | $21 | -9.9% | 13,980 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $43,670 | $37,080 | $21 | -10.5% | 9,340 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $43,090 | $42,360 | $21 | -11.6% | 4,220 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $42,660 | $39,910 | $21 | -12.5% | 31,810 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $41,510 | $37,680 | $20 | -14.9% | 11,950 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 521 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $57,250 | $64,130 | 1,400 |
| 2 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $53,190 | $57,800 | 1,610 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $52,100 | $57,840 | 4,480 |
| 4 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $50,870 | $55,700 | 390 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,820 | $58,770 | 14,470 |
| 6 | Kokomo, IN | $50,790 | $57,430 | 280 |
| 7 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $50,480 | $57,290 | 120 |
| 8 | Dalton, GA | $50,340 | $52,560 | 350 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $49,990 | $52,300 | 530 |
| 10 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $49,990 | $46,680 | 3,500 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing light truck driverss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water Transportation | $96,300 | $72,400 | 50 |
| 2 | Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $96,300 | $87,210 | 40 |
| 3 | Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $94,910 | $91,540 | 1,370 |
| 4 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $94,910 | $91,540 | 1,370 |
| 5 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $84,920 | $80,060 | 160 |
| 6 | Natural Gas Distribution | $84,840 | $84,510 | 110 |
| 7 | Air Transportation | $74,200 | $69,370 | 450 |
| 8 | Broadcasting and Content Providers | $67,760 | $67,580 | 50 |
| 9 | Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $66,580 | $62,820 | — |
| 10 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $66,010 | $64,810 | 120 |
| 11 | Postal Service (Federal Government) | $61,710 | $64,420 | 4,090 |
| 12 | Postal Service (Federal Government) | $61,710 | $64,420 | 4,090 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do light truck drivers make in the U.S.?
The median light truck drivers salary in the United States is $44,860 per year (mean $48,770), and about 80% earn between $30,800 and $80,310.
How much do light truck drivers make per hour?
Roughly $23 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $48,770 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays light truck drivers the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for light truck drivers at $62,940 per year (median $57,190).
What is the job outlook for light truck drivers?
Employment is projected to change +7.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 120,200 openings per year.