Light Truck Drivers Salary in Kentucky
Light Truck Drivers in Kentucky have a median of $43,230 a year, below the national $44,860 (−4%); the state ranks 36th of 51 states by median. That is 8% less than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee and Indiana pay more (up to $47,380 in Illinois) and Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia pay less (down to $38,860 in West Virginia). Kentucky employs 15,630 light truck drivers, 7.82 per 1,000 jobs, the 23rd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.24 means the occupation is more concentrated in Kentucky than nationally.
Kentucky vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $12.88 | $16.11 | $20.78 | $27.86 | $40.41 | $23.50 | 15,630 | 7.82 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $26,780 | $33,510 | $43,230 | $57,950 | $84,040 | $48,880 | ||||
| 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
- 36th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 23rd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.24
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.82
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kentucky'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 Kentucky
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $22.67 | $47,150 | $28,330 | $82,050 | 6,340 | 9.25 | 1.46 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $21.19 | $44,070 | $27,600 | $82,840 | 7,590 | 6.89 | 1.09 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $20.58 | $42,810 | $27,710 | $89,810 | 1,900 | 6.63 | 1.05 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $20.57 | $42,790 | $26,280 | $46,760 | 340 | 6.60 | 1.04 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $20.39 | $42,420 | $23,460 | $60,720 | 640 | 6.21 | 0.98 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $20.06 | $41,720 | $27,910 | $96,830 | 540 | 10.75 | 1.70 |
| Owensboro, KY | $19.09 | $39,700 | $27,780 | $74,050 | 390 | 7.90 | 1.25 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $18.88 | $39,270 | $23,290 | $96,830 | 650 | 7.90 | 1.25 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $18.17 | $37,790 | $23,470 | $79,200 | 840 | 6.00 | 0.95 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $18.26 | $37,980 | $22,950 | $93,790 | 620 | 6.77 | 1.07 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $18.24 | $37,930 | $24,910 | $63,020 | 1,100 | 6.41 | 1.01 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $17.13 | $35,620 | $22,820 | $58,410 | 750 | 5.79 | 0.92 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $17.03 | $35,420 | $23,180 | $62,630 | 810 | 4.69 | 0.74 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $20.78 | $43,230 | 15,630 | 1.24 |
| Illinois | $22.78 | $47,380 | 47,190 | 1.22 |
| Indiana | $21.42 | $44,560 | 19,880 | 0.98 |
| Missouri | $21.88 | $45,500 | 16,210 | 0.87 |
| Ohio | $20.48 | $42,600 | 35,130 | 1.00 |
| Tennessee | $21.66 | $45,050 | 33,710 | 1.63 |
| Virginia | $20.41 | $42,450 | 25,170 | 0.97 |
| West Virginia | $18.68 | $38,860 | 3,330 | 0.75 |
See the national page for Light Truck Drivers (every state ranked) and the Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.