Light Truck Drivers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Light Truck Drivers fall under the Transportation and Material Moving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Light Truck Drivers earn a median salary of $44,140 per year, ranking in the top 78% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +7.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do light truck drivers earn?

The median annual wage for light truck drivers is $44,140. That puts light truck drivers at #634 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is light truck drivers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for light truck drivers is +7.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1.1M positions in 2024 to 1.2M in 2034, a net change of 79K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do light truck drivers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working light truck drivers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
2. 2.Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition.
3. 3.Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
4. 4.Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
5. 5.Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
6. 6.Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
7. 7.Drive vehicles with capacities under three tons to transport materials to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards.
8. 8.Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.

Top skills for light truck drivers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become light truck driver?

Many light truck drivers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
  $226,600 median
• Air Traffic Controllers
  $144,580 median
• Commercial Pilots
  $122,670 median
• Ship Engineers
  $101,320 median
• Transportation Inspectors
  $85,750 median
• Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
  $85,540 median

Common questions parents ask about light truck drivers