Light Truck Drivers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$36,750
- 25th Percentile — Junior$42,160
- 50th Percentile — Median$46,790
- 75th Percentile — Senior$56,840
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$93,280
Half of Light Truck Drivers in California earn more than $46,790. The top 10% make $93,280 or more, while entry-level workers start around $36,750.
Light Truck Drivers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 3rd of 51 states for Light Truck Drivers pay, at $53,310 per year (9.3% above the U.S. average of $48,770).
- 111,950 people work as Light Truck Drivers in California — 11.4% of all U.S. Light Truck Drivers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.97: Light Truck Drivers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,750; the top 10% earn over $93,280.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.63 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $62,940.
- Among transportation jobs in California, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($310,190).
Light Truck Drivers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Light Truck Drivers here earn $53,310 on average, placing the state 3rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $53,310 is roughly equivalent to $37,542 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($62,940), Washington ($53,520), Illinois ($53,300) are the closest alternatives for Light Truck Drivers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Transportation Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $310,190/yr California +481.9% vs this role
- Commercial Pilots $202,040/yr California +279.0% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $156,910/yr California +194.3% vs this role
- Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels $129,580/yr California +143.1% vs this role
- Transportation Inspectors $88,500/yr California +66.0% vs this role
- Locomotive Engineers $75,600/yr California +41.8% vs this role
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $62,020/yr California +16.3% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $50,360/yr California 5.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Light Truck Drivers salary in California?
The average Light Truck Drivers salary in California is $53,310 per year (median $46,790), which is 9.3% above the national average of $48,770.
How does California rank for Light Truck Drivers pay?
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($62,940/yr).
How much do entry-level Light Truck Drivers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Light Truck Drivers in California earn about $36,750 per year and the 25th percentile is $42,160.
How much do Light Truck Drivers make per hour in California?
About $25.63 per hour, based on the $53,310 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Light Truck Drivers work in California?
BLS counts 111,950 Light Truck Drivers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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