Light Truck Driver salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Light Truck Drivers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $43,780 a year ($21.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 950 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,580 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $44,860. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $46,790. There are 4.7 light truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $50,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for light truck drivers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 25th percentile | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Median | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| 75th percentile | $53,150 | $25.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,580 | $40.18 |
| Average (mean) | $50,650 | $24.35 |
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 | $3,648.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,824.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,683.85 |
| Weekly | $841.92 |
| Hourly | $21.05 |
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 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $48,740 | 590 |
| 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 |
| 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,910 | $26.88 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $42,730 | $20.55 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $40,570 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,560 | $20.46 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $42,740 | $20.55 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Parking Attendant | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $66,900 | $32.16 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| Traffic Technician | $84,650 | $40.70 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for light truck drivers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $43,780 a year, or $21.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid light truck drivers make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of light truck drivers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $83,580 a year. The top 25% earn $53,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for light truck drivers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,540 a year, and a quarter of light truck drivers earn $38,850 or less.
How many light truck drivers work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 950 light truck drivers are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.