Light Truck Driver salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Light Truck Drivers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $47,950 a year ($23.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 34,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,900 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $44,860. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $47,380. There are 7.7 light truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for light truck drivers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| 25th percentile | $42,460 | $20.42 |
| Median | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| 75th percentile | $61,600 | $29.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,900 | $44.18 |
| Average (mean) | $54,780 | $26.34 |
Half of light truck drivers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,995.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,997.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,844.23 |
| Weekly | $922.12 |
| Hourly | $23.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,950 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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Light Truck Driver salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kokomo, IN | $50,790 | 280 |
| Rockford, IL | $48,240 | 1,350 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $47,910 | 820 |
| Decatur, IL | $47,660 | 680 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $47,150 | 6,340 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,150 | 7,180 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $46,950 | 590 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $46,490 | 250 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,200 | 1,180 |
| Muncie, IN | $45,900 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $45,180 | 7,530 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $44,070 | 7,590 |
| Springfield, IL | $43,830 | 690 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $43,650 | 1,760 |
| Peoria, IL | $43,440 | 1,160 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $43,310 | 620 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $43,300 | 1,110 |
| Evansville, IN | $43,130 | 1,070 |
| Columbus, IN | $42,470 | 210 |
| Bloomington, IN | $42,180 | 230 |
| Kankakee, IL | $42,030 | 270 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $41,720 | 540 |
| Bloomington, IL | $41,410 | 410 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $40,370 | 460 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $35,020 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for light truck drivers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $57,190 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 |
| Washington | $49,070 |
| Minnesota | $48,880 |
| Colorado | $48,410 |
| Maryland | $48,150 |
| Massachusetts | $48,110 |
| North Dakota | $47,950 |
| Illinois | $47,380 |
| Oregon | $47,150 |
See Light Truck Driver pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,490 | $19.46 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Taxi Driver | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3033. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a light truck driver make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for light truck drivers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,950 a year, or $23.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid light truck drivers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of light truck drivers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $91,900 a year. The top 25% earn $61,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for light truck drivers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,780 a year, and a quarter of light truck drivers earn $42,460 or less.
How many light truck drivers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 34,680 light truck drivers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.