California Median
$46,790
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+4% vs US median
US median $44,860
State Rank
#12 of 51
111,950 employed here
How much does a Light Truck Driver make in California?
Light Truck Drivers in California take home a median of $46,790 annually — roughly $22.50 an hour — which runs 4% above the national median of $44,860.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $36,750 while the top 10% make $93,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,160 and $56,840 a year.
Light Truck Driver salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,750 | $17.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $42,160 | $20.27 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,790 | $22.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $56,840 | $27.33 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,280 | $44.85 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 12th out of 51 states and territories for Light Truck Driver pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Light Truck Driver salary in other states
Alaska $57,190District of Columbia $49,330Washington $49,070Minnesota $48,880Colorado $48,410Maryland $48,150Massachusetts $48,110North Dakota $47,950Illinois $47,380Oregon $47,150New Jersey $46,820Montana $46,420New York $46,330New Hampshire $46,260Hawaii $45,930Utah $45,860Wisconsin $45,670Rhode Island $45,660Missouri $45,500Arizona $45,140Vermont $45,090Tennessee $45,050Indiana $44,560Maine $44,550Connecticut $44,500Idaho $44,370Nebraska $44,120Pennsylvania $44,120Georgia $44,050Delaware $43,990Wyoming $43,780Nevada $43,760Kansas $43,730South Dakota $43,240Kentucky $43,230Michigan $43,000Iowa $42,750Ohio $42,600Texas $42,500Virginia $42,450New Mexico $42,360Florida $41,810North Carolina $39,910Oklahoma $39,840Louisiana $39,440West Virginia $38,860Alabama $38,490Mississippi $38,140South Carolina $37,680Arkansas $37,080
Working as a Light Truck Driver in California
Nationally, about 983,000 people work as Light Truck Drivers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($46,790) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Light Truck Driver make in California?
The median Light Truck Driver salary in California is $46,790 per year, or about $22.50 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,750 at the entry level to $93,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Light Truck Drivers about 4% more than the national median of $44,860. California ranks 12th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Light Truck Drivers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $46,790 a year. About 111,950 Light Truck Drivers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Light Truck Driver salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.