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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Light Truck Driverss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Light Truck Driverss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Kokomo ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $56,654/year, better purchasing power than Anchorage's higher nominal pay of $57,250. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Anchorage$57,250
#2 Hagerstown-Martinsburg$53,190
#3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$52,100

Best purchasing power

#1 Kokomo$56,654
#2 Hagerstown-Martinsburg$56,483
#3 Dalton$56,033

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed light truck driverss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Kokomo
27% rent burden
$50,790
$56,654
#2
Hagerstown-Martinsburg
28% rent burden
$53,190
$56,483
#3
Dalton
24% rent burden
$50,340
$56,033
#4
Grand Forks
27% rent burden
$47,880
$55,250
#5
Minot
25% rent burden
$48,050
$55,211
#6
Chattanooga
33% rent burden
$49,990
$54,658
#7
Anchorage
29% rent burden
$57,250
$54,307
#8
Decatur
27% rent burden
$47,660
$53,902
#9
St. Joseph
28% rent burden
$46,470
$53,797
#10
Lewiston-Auburn
37% rent burden
$50,870
$53,694
#11
St. Cloud
31% rent burden
$46,330
$52,870
#12
Bismarck
29% rent burden
$48,090
$52,835
#13
$46,600
$52,751
#14
Lewiston
31% rent burden
$47,860
$52,501
#15
Memphis
32% rent burden
$48,350
$52,452
#16
Rockford
29% rent burden
$48,240
$52,349
#17
Rochester
36% rent burden
$47,460
$52,257
#18
Muncie
27% rent burden
$45,900
$52,070
#19
Elkhart-Goshen
30% rent burden
$46,950
$51,976
#20
Cleveland
32% rent burden
$45,760
$51,953
#21
Fargo
28% rent burden
$47,170
$51,909
#22
Oshkosh-Neenah
29% rent burden
$48,220
$51,889
#23
$46,200
$51,863
#24
Grand Island
28% rent burden
$44,920
$51,835
#25
Champaign-Urbana
28% rent burden
$47,910
$51,683

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Light Truck Driverss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $57,250 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $47,708 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A light truck drivers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Light Truck Driverss?

Dalton has one of the lowest rent burdens for Light Truck Driverss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,009/month, with a median salary of $50,340.

Where do Light Truck Driverss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Anchorage pays the highest nominal median salary at $57,250/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Light Truck DriverssView →How to become a light truck driversGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →