Light Truck Drivers Salary in California
The median for light truck drivers in California is $46,790 a year, somewhat above the national $44,860 (+4%); the state ranks 12th of 51 states by median. That is 20% less than the median across all occupations in California ($58,240). Among neighbouring states, Oregon pays more (up to $47,150 in Oregon) and Arizona and Nevada pay less (down to $43,760 in Nevada). California employs 111,950 light truck drivers, 6.15 per 1,000 jobs, the 1st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.97 is close to the national share.
California vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.67 | $20.27 | $22.50 | $27.33 | $44.85 | $25.63 | 111,950 | 6.15 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $42,160 | $46,790 | $56,840 | $93,280 | $53,310 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.81 | $17.92 | $21.57 | $25.15 | $38.61 | $23.45 | 983,300 | – | – |
| Annual | $30,800 | $37,270 | $44,860 | $52,310 | $80,310 | $48,770 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 12th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 1st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.97
- Jobs per 1,000
- 6.15
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of California's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in California
25 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching California publish a row for light truck drivers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $25.05 | $52,100 | $43,050 | $83,240 | 4,480 | 3.95 | 0.62 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $24.43 | $50,820 | $42,300 | $93,280 | 14,470 | 6.09 | 0.96 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $23.76 | $49,410 | $38,750 | $95,360 | 1,070 | 5.23 | 0.83 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $23.43 | $48,740 | $38,570 | $63,750 | 590 | 6.02 | 0.95 |
| Napa, CA | $22.88 | $47,590 | $38,850 | $59,430 | 560 | 7.16 | 1.13 |
| Visalia, CA | $22.46 | $46,720 | $34,780 | $94,540 | 1,080 | 6.33 | 1.00 |
| Vallejo, CA | $22.45 | $46,700 | $37,170 | $72,960 | 840 | 5.82 | 0.92 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $22.39 | $46,570 | $36,190 | $85,760 | 2,680 | 9.26 | 1.46 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $22.36 | $46,500 | $37,650 | $95,630 | 40,900 | 6.52 | 1.03 |
| Yuba City, CA | $22.29 | $46,350 | $35,140 | $97,590 | 180 | 3.61 | 0.57 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $22.28 | $46,340 | $36,290 | $83,080 | 7,010 | 6.48 | 1.03 |
| Chico, CA | $22.11 | $45,990 | $35,470 | $69,590 | 480 | 6.12 | 0.97 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $22.11 | $45,990 | $35,900 | $96,600 | 410 | 3.34 | 0.53 |
| Salinas, CA | $22.10 | $45,970 | $35,840 | $82,170 | 610 | 3.27 | 0.52 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $21.96 | $45,670 | $36,730 | $82,840 | 8,240 | 5.36 | 0.85 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $21.90 | $45,560 | $35,360 | $85,110 | 14,380 | 8.38 | 1.32 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $21.45 | $44,620 | $36,360 | $69,940 | 2,230 | 6.89 | 1.09 |
| Merced, CA | $21.27 | $44,250 | $35,540 | $94,540 | 270 | 3.38 | 0.54 |
| Redding, CA | $21.21 | $44,120 | $34,320 | $69,070 | 520 | 7.33 | 1.16 |
| Modesto, CA | $21.06 | $43,800 | $34,380 | $94,620 | 1,010 | 5.20 | 0.82 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $21.05 | $43,780 | $36,540 | $83,580 | 950 | 4.74 | 0.75 |
| El Centro, CA | $20.85 | $43,380 | $34,750 | $65,550 | 240 | 3.63 | 0.57 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $20.83 | $43,320 | $34,320 | $81,480 | 1,560 | 4.63 | 0.73 |
| Fresno, CA | $20.76 | $43,170 | $34,390 | $77,750 | 3,310 | 6.95 | 1.10 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $19.39 | $40,340 | $34,800 | $49,260 | 170 | 3.49 | 0.55 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $22.93 | $47,700 | $36,650 | $66,540 | 660 | 6.00 | 0.95 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $21.91 | $45,570 | $36,010 | $70,390 | 460 | 4.40 | 0.70 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $21.57 | $44,870 | $37,070 | $68,650 | 280 | 4.42 | 0.70 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Light Truck Drivers (every state ranked) and the California wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS California estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.