The median pay for Light Truck Drivers is $44,860 a year ($21.57/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.3% through 2035, with about 107,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 53-3033
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Light Truck Driver in four numbers
- Median pay
- $44,860a year, or $21.57/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $31KTop 10% $80K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.3%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 107,2001,068,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.1M
- Projected 20351.1M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.1M Projected 2035 1.1M - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school24.6%
- High school74%
- Some college0.3%
- Associate's1.2%
Highest education held by light truck drivers Segment Value Less than high school 24.6% High school 74% Some college 0.3% Associate's 1.2%
Also advertised as: Bulk Delivery Driver, Delivery Driver, Driver, Light Truck Driver, Package Car Driver, Package Delivery Driver.
Pay
How much do light truck drivers make?
Light Truck Drivers earn a median of $44,860 a year ($21.57 an hour, or about $3,740 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $30,800 and the top 10% more than $80,310 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Alaska, with a median of $57,190. See Light truck driver salary in Alaska and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Anchorage ($64,130 average): salary in every city.
Every light truck driver in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$44,860
Middle half earn $37,270 to $52,310
- 10th
- $30,800
- 25th
- $37,270
- 75th
- $52,310
- 90th
- $80,310
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $30,800 |
| 25th | $37,270 |
| Median | $44,860 |
| 75th | $52,310 |
| 90th | $80,310 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $44,860
- Median hourly wage
- $21.57/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $48,770
- People employed
- 983,300
Versus all US occupations
At $44,860, Light Truck Drivers earn 12% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,120 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 29% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $80,310 or more while the bottom 10% earn $30,800, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 11% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $57,190, and still leads at $55,872 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay light truck drivers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $57,190 | $55,872 | 1,790 |
| 2District of Columbia | $49,330 | $44,886 | 540 |
| 3Washington | $49,070 | $45,854 | 23,290 |
| 4Minnesota | $48,880 | $49,563 | 17,360 |
| 5Colorado | $48,410 | $46,976 | 15,810 |
| 6Maryland | $48,150 | $45,875 | 18,420 |
| 7Massachusetts | $48,110 | $45,491 | 23,350 |
| 8North Dakota | $47,950 | $53,901 | 1,950 |
| 9Illinois | $47,380 | $47,400 | 47,190 |
| 10Oregon | $47,150 | $45,617 | 11,120 |
Job outlook
Is light truck driver a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Light Truck Drivers | +6.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Light Truck Drivers to change 6.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 67,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 107,200 openings are projected each year, 10.0% of the 1,068,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Continued growth of e-commerce should increase the need for deliveries, which is expected to create jobs for light truck drivers. In addition, more of these workers will be needed as consumers increasingly demand faster and more convenient delivery services.
Growing demand for local delivery services also is expected to create jobs for driver/sales workers. The use of mobile ordering apps for groceries, takeout food, and other goods should increase demand for these workers to deliver purchases to consumers.
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a light truck driver
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter these occupations. However, some opportunities exist for those without a high school diploma. Workers undergo 1 month or less of on-the-job training. They must have a driver’s license from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as light truck drivers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)74%
- Less than a High School Diploma24.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1.2%
- Some College Courses0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 74% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 24.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 1.2% |
| Some College Courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a light truck driver do?
Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks weighing less than 26,001 pounds total for vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Delivery truck drivers usually transport merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households.
Day-to-day tasks
- Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
- Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
- Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
- Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
- Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
- Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
- 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.
- Drive vehicles with capacities under three tons to transport materials to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 25.7 per 100,000 workers (7.8x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, for the group “Driver/sales workers and truck drivers”: 950 deaths that year.
Most drivers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Those who have regular routes sometimes must begin work very early in the morning or work late at night. For example, a driver who delivers bread to a deli every day must arrive before the deli opens. Drivers often work weekends and holidays, and their schedules may vary.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where light truck drivers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Food services and drinking places39%
- Wholesale trade25%
- Retail trade9%
- Self-employed workers7%
- Transportation and warehousing6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Food services and drinking places | 39% |
| Wholesale trade | 25% |
| Retail trade | 9% |
| Self-employed workers | 7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Writing2.8
- Mathematics2.3
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Service Orientation2.8
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Coordination2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Communications server software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Desktop communications software
- Industrial control software
- Inventory management software
- Route navigation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a light truck driver?
Women make up 7.7% of light truck drivers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
30.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure.
The median worker is 46.4 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 7.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 46.4All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 30.8%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 3,583,000Driver/sales workers and truck drivers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of light truck drivers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 7.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 72.1% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 20.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.5% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 25.8% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 30.8% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 6.9% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Driver/sales workers and truck drivers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a light truck driver?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Light Truck Driver |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.9
- Conventional4.4
- Enterprising2.1
- Investigative1.5
- Social1.4
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Light Truck Driver
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Office and Administrative Support
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator
$46,420median a year
Most earn $37K to $63K
+1.5%No formal credential
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with light truck drivers highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Light Truck Driver$44,860
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within light truck driver
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Light Truck Driver appears on
Questions
Light Truck Driver: frequently asked questions
How much do light truck drivers make?
Light Truck Drivers earn a median of $44,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 12% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $21.57/hr. The middle half earn between $37,270 and $52,310. The top 10% earn $80,310 or more.
How much do light truck drivers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for light truck drivers is $21.57 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $44,860 annual median works out to about $3,740 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a light truck driver?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of light truck drivers earn less than $30,800 a year and the bottom quarter less than $37,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do light truck drivers make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $80,310, so fewer than 10% of light truck drivers earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is Alaska at $57,190.
Which states pay light truck drivers the most?
The highest state medians for Light Truck Drivers are Alaska ($57,190), District of Columbia ($49,330), Washington ($49,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of light truck driver earns the most?
BLS does not split light truck drivers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $80,310, against a median of $44,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Alaska ($57,190), District of Columbia ($49,330), Washington ($49,070). BLS also counts a specialty career inside this occupation (autonomous vehicle test operator), which shares its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a light truck driver?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Light Truck Drivers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 74.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a light truck driver?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for light truck drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is light truck driver a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.3% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 107,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a light truck driver do?
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. A core O*NET task: obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Do light truck drivers work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 72% of light truck drivers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 28% work exactly 40 and 1% work fewer. 75% say their schedule is regular and 21% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a light truck driver?
O*NET scores Light Truck Drivers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of light truck drivers are women?
Women make up 7.7% of light truck drivers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. 30.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure. The median worker is 46.4 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Driver/sales workers and truck drivers".