Light Truck Drivers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,910 or more. The middle half of light truck drivers in Columbia earn between $30,960 and $48,000.
- $24K10th
- $31K25th
- $38KMedian
- $48K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,770 | $3,648 | $21.04 |
| Median | $37,600 | $3,133 | $18.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,960 | $2,580 | $14.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Light Truck Drivers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Light truck drivers in Columbia earn 5% more than the South Carolina average ($41,510) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($48,770). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $44,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $43,770 | $37,600 | $24,080 | $80,910 | 2,100 |
| South Carolina | $41,510 | $37,680 | $23,500 | $62,870 | 11,950 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $43,770, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $36,756 a year, or $3,063 a month and $1,414 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for light truck drivers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $43,770 buys what about $46,732 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Light Truck Drivers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 1st of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Columbia$43,770
- Florence$42,870
- Greenville$42,390
- Myrtle Beach$41,550
- Charleston$41,350
- Sumter$39,590
- Hilton Head Island$39,040
- Spartanburg$36,980
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Light Truck Drivers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do light truck drivers make an hour in Columbia?
$21.04 an hour on average, and $18.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level light truck drivers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the light truck drivers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $36,756 a year ($3,063 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,770.
Do light truck drivers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.