Light Truck Driver salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Light Truck Drivers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $48,740 a year ($23.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,750 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $44,860. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $46,790. There are 6.0 light truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $50,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for light truck drivers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 25th percentile | $41,690 | $20.05 |
| Median | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 75th percentile | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Average (mean) | $50,310 | $24.19 |
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 | $4,061.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,030.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,874.62 |
| Weekly | $937.31 |
| Hourly | $23.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Light Truck Driver salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $52,100 | 4,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,820 | 14,470 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,410 | 1,070 |
| Napa, CA | $47,590 | 560 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,720 | 1,080 |
| Vallejo, CA | $46,700 | 840 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,570 | 2,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,500 | 40,900 |
| Yuba City, CA | $46,350 | 180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,340 | 7,010 |
| Chico, CA | $45,990 | 480 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,990 | 410 |
| Salinas, CA | $45,970 | 610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,670 | 8,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,560 | 14,380 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,620 | 2,230 |
| Merced, CA | $44,250 | 270 |
| Redding, CA | $44,120 | 520 |
| Modesto, CA | $43,800 | 1,010 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,780 | 950 |
| El Centro, CA | $43,380 | 240 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,320 | 1,560 |
| Fresno, CA | $43,170 | 3,310 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $40,340 | 170 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,500 | $28.60 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,510 | $17.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Parking Attendant | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $35,960 | $17.29 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for light truck drivers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $48,740 a year, or $23.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid light truck drivers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of light truck drivers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $63,750 a year. The top 25% earn $52,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for light truck drivers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,570 a year, and a quarter of light truck drivers earn $41,690 or less.
How many light truck drivers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 590 light truck drivers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.