Light Truck Drivers Salary in Tennessee
At $45,050 a year, the median for light truck drivers in Tennessee is close to the national median of $44,860 (0%); Tennessee ranks 23rd of 51 states by median. That is 5% less than the median across all occupations in Tennessee ($47,380). Among neighbouring states, Missouri pays more (up to $45,500 in Missouri) and Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas pay less (down to $37,080 in Arkansas). Tennessee employs 33,710 light truck drivers, 10.3 per 1,000 jobs, the 9th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.63 means the occupation is more concentrated in Tennessee than nationally.
Tennessee vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $14.03 | $18.34 | $21.66 | $26.02 | $40.14 | $23.62 | 33,710 | 10.28 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $29,190 | $38,150 | $45,050 | $54,110 | $83,480 | $49,120 | ||||
| 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
- 23rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 9th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.63
- Jobs per 1,000
- 10.28
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Tennessee'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 Tennessee
10 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24.03 | $49,990 | $29,450 | $54,060 | 3,500 | 13.03 | 2.06 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $23.25 | $48,350 | $35,360 | $93,470 | 8,190 | 13.39 | 2.12 |
| Cleveland, TN | $22.00 | $45,760 | $27,570 | $74,220 | 260 | 6.10 | 0.97 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $21.62 | $44,970 | $33,620 | $80,180 | 11,940 | 10.87 | 1.72 |
| Jackson, TN | $20.99 | $43,660 | $27,020 | $91,260 | 630 | 7.51 | 1.19 |
| Morristown, TN | $20.55 | $42,740 | $26,550 | $80,370 | 350 | 7.41 | 1.17 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $20.39 | $42,420 | $23,460 | $60,720 | 640 | 6.21 | 0.98 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $19.99 | $41,590 | $26,470 | $94,390 | 1,000 | 8.32 | 1.32 |
| Knoxville, TN | $18.91 | $39,330 | $28,650 | $58,910 | 3,820 | 9.00 | 1.42 |
| Johnson City, TN | $17.72 | $36,850 | $25,690 | $60,830 | 670 | 8.25 | 1.31 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $21.85 | $45,440 | $25,290 | $79,260 | 740 | 6.75 | 1.07 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $19.12 | $39,760 | $24,260 | $57,930 | 790 | 5.63 | 0.89 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $17.00 | $35,350 | $24,020 | $63,060 | 670 | 5.73 | 0.91 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $16.82 | $34,980 | $27,620 | $83,150 | 1,020 | 8.85 | 1.40 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $21.66 | $45,050 | 33,710 | 1.63 |
| Alabama | $18.50 | $38,490 | 13,980 | 1.05 |
| Arkansas | $17.83 | $37,080 | 9,340 | 1.13 |
| Georgia | $21.18 | $44,050 | 26,050 | 0.84 |
| Kentucky | $20.78 | $43,230 | 15,630 | 1.24 |
| Missouri | $21.88 | $45,500 | 16,210 | 0.87 |
| Mississippi | $18.34 | $38,140 | 7,030 | 0.96 |
| North Carolina | $19.19 | $39,910 | 31,810 | 1.02 |
| Virginia | $20.41 | $42,450 | 25,170 | 0.97 |
See the national page for Light Truck Drivers (every state ranked) and the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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.