Light Truck Drivers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,540 or more. The middle half of light truck drivers in Merced earn between $37,210 and $92,810.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $44KMedian
- $93K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,460 | $4,705 | $27.14 |
| Median | $44,250 | $3,688 | $21.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,210 | $3,101 | $17.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,810 | $7,734 | $44.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Light Truck Drivers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Light truck drivers in Merced earn 6% more than the California average ($53,310) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($48,770). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $44,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $56,460 | $44,250 | $35,540 | $94,540 | 270 |
| California | $53,310 | $46,790 | $36,750 | $93,280 | 111,950 |
| United States | $48,770 | $44,860 | $30,800 | $80,310 | 983,300 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Light Truck Drivers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $56,460, a single filer in Merced takes home about $45,965 a year, or $3,830 a month and $1,768 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for light truck drivers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $56,460 buys what about $57,451 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Light Truck Drivers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 4th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($58,770).
- San Francisco$58,770
- San Jose$57,840
- Santa Rosa$56,640
- Merced$56,460
- Visalia$54,820
- Yuba City$54,500
- Los Angeles$54,000
- Salinas$52,220
- Stockton$52,170
- Riverside$51,560
Highest-paying cities for light truck drivers
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($64,130).
- Anchorage, AK$64,130
- Memphis, TN$59,140
- San Francisco, CA$58,770
- Decatur, IL$57,850
- San Jose, CA$57,840
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Light Truck Drivers salary in Merced: questions
How much do light truck drivers make an hour in Merced?
$27.14 an hour on average, and $21.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level light truck drivers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the light truck drivers take-home pay in Merced?
About $45,965 a year ($3,830 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,460. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do light truck drivers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($48,770).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-3033; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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