Cdl driver demographics and statistics in the US
Cdl driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates cdl driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our cdl driver estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about cdl drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 1,356,501 cdl drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 7.2% of all cdl drivers are women, while 92.8% are men.
- The average cdl driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of cdl drivers is White (58.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.5%), Black or African American (12.7%) and Unknown (4.5%).
- Cdl drivers are most in-demand in Indianapolis, IN.
- The retail industry is the highest-paying for cdl drivers.
- Washington, DC pays an annual average wage of $72,415, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women cdl drivers earned 88% of what men earned.
- 4% of all cdl drivers are LGBT.
- North Dakota is the best state for cdl drivers to live.
- Cdl drivers are 75% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Cdl driver demographics by:
Cdl driver gender statistics
7.2% of cdl drivers are women and 92.8% of cdl drivers are men.
- Male, 92.8%
- Female, 7.2%
Cdl driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 92.8% |
| Female | 7.2% |
Cdl driver gender pay gap
Women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$61,180
Female income
$53,725
Cdl driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in cdl driver positions over time. Currently, 7.2% of cdl drivers are female.
Cdl driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 94.68% | 5.32% |
| 2011 | 94.52% | 5.48% |
| 2012 | 94.04% | 5.96% |
| 2013 | 93.81% | 6.19% |
| 2014 | 93.58% | 6.42% |
| 2015 | 93.66% | 6.34% |
| 2016 | 93.45% | 6.55% |
| 2017 | 93.32% | 6.68% |
| 2018 | 92.54% | 7.46% |
| 2019 | 92.68% | 7.32% |
| 2020 | 92.81% | 7.19% |
| 2021 | 92.75% | 7.25% |
Cdl driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared cdl drivers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, diesel truck driver and tank wagon driver have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Matron | 11% | 89% |
| Bus Escort | 18% | 82% |
| Bus Monitor | 19% | 81% |
| CDL Driver | 93% | 7% |
| Wrecker Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tank Wagon Driver | 99% | 1% |
| Diesel Truck Driver | 100% | 0% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Cdl driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among cdl drivers is White, which makes up 58.2% of all cdl drivers. Comparatively, 20.5% of cdl drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.7% of cdl drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 58.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.5%
- Black or African American, 12.7%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- Asian, 3.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Cdl driver race
| Cdl driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.5% |
| Black or African American | 12.7% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| Asian | 3.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Cdl driver race and ethnicity over time
See how cdl driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Cdl driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.19% | 11.40% | 2.25% | 16.75% |
| 2011 | 66.83% | 11.78% | 2.27% | 16.64% |
| 2012 | 66.11% | 11.93% | 2.42% | 16.98% |
| 2013 | 66.20% | 11.46% | 2.33% | 17.50% |
| 2014 | 65.92% | 11.91% | 2.51% | 17.15% |
| 2015 | 65.01% | 12.24% | 2.55% | 17.61% |
| 2016 | 64.22% | 11.88% | 2.65% | 18.48% |
| 2017 | 64.02% | 12.00% | 2.67% | 18.65% |
| 2018 | 63.52% | 12.05% | 2.97% | 18.66% |
| 2019 | 63.90% | 12.02% | 2.80% | 18.56% |
| 2020 | 61.12% | 12.00% | 3.03% | 18.85% |
| 2021 | 58.18% | 12.69% | 3.37% | 20.46% |
Cdl driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white cdl drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian cdl drivers have the lowest average salary at $60,613.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $61,330 |
| White | $61,927 |
| Black or African American | $60,854 |
| Asian | $60,613 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $61,183 |
Average cdl driver age
See how the average age of cdl drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Cdl driver age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 49 | 44 |
| Unknown | 46 | 39.5 |
| Asian | 46 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 43 |
| White | 51 | 48 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 49.5 | 47 |
Cdl driver age breakdown
The average age of cdl drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the cdl driver population.
Cdl driver age breakdown
| CDL Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Cdl driver educational attainment
The most common degree for cdl drivers is high school diploma, with 38% of cdl drivers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 38%
- Associate, 18%
- Bachelor's, 14%
- Diploma, 13%
- Other Degrees, 17%
Cdl drivers by degree level
| Cdl driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 38% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Bachelor's | 14% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Other Degrees | 17% |
Cdl driver jobs you might like
Cdl driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, cdl drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $64,927 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, cdl drivers earn a median annual income of $64,111 compared to $63,466 for cdl drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $57,224 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $63,466 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,111 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $64,927 |
Cdl driver employment statistics
Most cdl drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where cdl drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where cdl drivers work.
Cdl driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 14% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 31% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Cdl driver jobs by company type
Employees with the cdl driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most cdl drivers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Cdl driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 75% |
| Government | 1% |
Cdl driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for cdl drivers are transportation, manufacturing and retail.
Cdl driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 46% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Cdl driver turnover and employment statistics
Cdl driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for cdl drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cdl driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | Cdl driver unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.33% |
| 2011 | 8.73% |
| 2012 | 7.76% |
| 2013 | 6.88% |
| 2014 | 5.54% |
| 2015 | 4.98% |
| 2016 | 4.17% |
| 2017 | 4.08% |
| 2018 | 3.68% |
| 2019 | 3.45% |
| 2020 | 5.26% |
| 2021 | 5.44% |
Average cdl driver tenure
The average cdl driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 16,714 cdl drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Cdl driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 35% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Cdl driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of cdl drivers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| CDL Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Motor Coach Chauffeur | 6.17% | 15,327 |
| Charter Coach Driver | 8.69% | 48,451 |
| School Boat Driver | 8.77% | 55,621 |
Similar cdl driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| Motor Coach Chauffeur | 6.17% | 15,327 |
| Charter Coach Driver | 8.69% | 48,451 |
| School Boat Driver | 8.77% | 55,621 |
Foreign languages spoken by cdl drivers
The most common foreign language among cdl drivers is Spanish at 64.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 6.2% and French is the third-most popular at 5.1%.
- Spanish, 64.0%
- Carrier, 6.2%
- French, 5.1%
- Portuguese, 3.4%
- Italian, 3.4%
- Other, 17.9%
Cdl driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 64.0% |
| Carrier | 6.2% |
| French | 5.1% |
| Portuguese | 3.4% |
| Italian | 3.4% |
| Other | 17.9% |
