BLS national median · SOC 53-3033
$44,140
$21.22/hr · 2,080 hrs/yr
#86 · Transportation
Light truck drivers Salary
BLS OEWS May 2024 national median $44,140 ($21.22/hr on 2,080 hours). SOC 53-3033. Modeled 2026 take-home, training context, and career comparisons below.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Texas take-home at median
$37,646
14.7% effective
California take-home at median
$36,197
18.0% effective
Key takeaways — Delivery drivers
- Light truck drivers ranks #86 of 92 on this hub with a $44,140 BLS May 2024 national median ($21.22/hr).
- Modeled Texas take-home at that median: $37,646 (14.7% effective employee levy rate). California: $36,197.
- One rank above: Medical assistants at $44,200 (+$60).
- Bonuses, equity, overtime, and self-employment income are outside BLS OEWS cash-wage medians.
About Light truck drivers wages
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes occupational employment and wage estimates (May 2024) by Standard Occupational Classification code. For Light truck drivers (SOC 53-3033), the national median annual wage is $44,140 — meaning half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less across the United States.
We convert that median to an hourly equivalent using 2,080 full-time hours per year, then apply our 2026 US paycheck model so you see modeled take-home, not just gross. That bridges BLS labor-market statistics with the same tax rules as our state calculators.
Use the compare tool to pit Delivery drivers against another career, or open the paycheck calculator to model an offer above or below the published median.
Transportation · rank context
Delivery drivers sits at rank #86 between Medical assistants (#85, $44,200) and Phlebotomists (#87, $43,660).
Training & licensing context
Airline pilot medians assume ATP certification and seniority systems. Early-career regional pilots often earn far below the national pilot median.
Take-home at BLS median by state
Single filer, standard deduction, federal + state where applicable, employee payroll — gross equals the published BLS median.
| State | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $37,646 | 14.7% |
| California | $36,197 | 18.0% |
| New York | $35,829 | 18.8% |
| Florida | $37,646 | 14.7% |
Myths vs facts
Myth: Every Delivery drivers job pays the BLS median.
Fact: The median is a national midpoint. Entry roles, part-time schedules, and low-COL markets sit below; senior specialists in high-demand metros sit above.
Myth: Take-home at median is what you will net.
Fact: Our columns use a single-filer vignette at the BLS gross median. Marriage, dependents, 401(k), HSA, and local taxes change your actual paycheck.
Salary planning checklist
- Confirm the posting matches SOC 53-3033 (Light truck drivers)
- Compare Texas vs California take-home if relocation is on the table
- Read BLS percentile tables when published for this occupation
- Use metro paycheck examples when the employer names a city
- Model your exact gross in the US paycheck calculator
Common mistakes
- ✕Treating $44,140 as a universal offer for all experience levels
- ✕Ignoring licensing and training years when comparing to lower-medians with shorter paths
- ✕Skipping state tax when comparing two offers at similar gross medians
Delivery drivers salary FAQs
BLS OEWS May 2024 lists a $44,140 national median (SOC 53-3033) — about $21.22/hr on a 2,080-hour year.
Modeled single-filer take-home at the BLS median: Texas $37,646, California $36,197, New York $35,829, Florida $37,646 (2026 rules).
#86 of 92 occupations on this hub by BLS national median wage.
Medical assistants ranks #85 at $44,200 — $60 above Delivery drivers.
Phlebotomists ranks #87 at $43,660 — $480 below.
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