Light Truck Drivers
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area.
Is light truck drivers a good career?
It scores 33/100 and ranks #118 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+7.3% through 2034)
- High volume of openings — about 120,200 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($44,860 vs $61,390)
What light truck drivers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. light truck drivers earn between $37,270 and $52,310 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live light truck drivers jobs
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034.
Education
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training
Companies train new delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers on the job. This may include training from a driver-mentor who rides along with a new employee to make sure that the driver is able to operate a truck safely on crowded streets.
New-driver training also covers company policies about package dropoffs and returns, taking payment, and what to do with damaged goods.
Driver/sales workers must learn detailed information about the products they offer. Their company also may teach them proper sales techniques, such as how to approach new customers.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
All delivery drivers need a driver’s license.
Important qualities
Customer-service skills. When completing deliveries, drivers often interact with customers and should make a good impression to ensure repeat business.
Hand–eye coordination. Drivers need to observe their surroundings at all times while operating a vehicle.
Math skills. Because delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers sometimes take payment, they must be able to count cash and make change quickly and accurately.
Patience. When driving through heavy traffic congestion, delivery drivers must remain calm and composed.
Sales skills. Driver/sales workers are expected to persuade customers to purchase new or different products.
Visual ability. To have a driver’s license, delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers must be able to pass a state vision test.
Related occupations
How much do light truck drivers make?
The national median wage is $44,860 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,270 and $52,310 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is light truck drivers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 33 of 100 and ranks #118 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +7.3% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a light truck driver?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do light truck drivers earn the most?
Among states, Alaska pays the highest median ($57,190). Local pay for every state and metro is below.