Driver demographics and statistics in the US
Driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our 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 drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 2,350,464 drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 17.0% of all drivers are women, while 83.0% are men.
- The average driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of drivers is White (58.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.9%), Black or African American (12.7%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Drivers are most in-demand in Phoenix, AZ.
- Boston, MA pays an annual average wage of $42,446, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women drivers earned 88% of what men earned.
- Iowa is the best state for drivers to live.
- Drivers are 71% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Driver demographics by:
Driver gender statistics
17.0% of drivers are women and 83.0% of drivers are men.
- Male, 83.0%
- Female, 17.0%
Driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 83.0% |
| Female | 17.0% |
Driver gender pay gap
Women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$33,863
Female income
$29,689
Driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in driver positions over time. Currently, 17.0% of drivers are female.
Driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 87.14% | 12.86% |
| 2011 | 86.77% | 13.23% |
| 2012 | 85.71% | 14.29% |
| 2013 | 85.21% | 14.79% |
| 2014 | 84.72% | 15.28% |
| 2015 | 84.89% | 15.11% |
| 2016 | 84.44% | 15.56% |
| 2017 | 84.16% | 15.84% |
| 2018 | 82.51% | 17.49% |
| 2019 | 82.80% | 17.20% |
| 2020 | 83.09% | 16.91% |
| 2021 | 82.96% | 17.04% |
Driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared 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% |
| Driver | 83% | 17% |
| 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%
Driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among drivers is White, which makes up 58.5% of all drivers. Comparatively, 19.9% of drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.7% of drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 58.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.9%
- Black or African American, 12.7%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Asian, 3.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Driver race
| Driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.9% |
| Black or African American | 12.7% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Asian | 3.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Driver race and ethnicity over time
See how driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.50% | 11.45% | 2.35% | 16.22% |
| 2011 | 67.13% | 11.83% | 2.37% | 16.11% |
| 2012 | 66.42% | 11.98% | 2.52% | 16.45% |
| 2013 | 66.50% | 11.52% | 2.43% | 16.97% |
| 2014 | 66.23% | 11.96% | 2.62% | 16.62% |
| 2015 | 65.31% | 12.30% | 2.66% | 17.08% |
| 2016 | 64.53% | 11.93% | 2.75% | 17.95% |
| 2017 | 64.32% | 12.06% | 2.78% | 18.12% |
| 2018 | 63.82% | 12.10% | 3.08% | 18.13% |
| 2019 | 64.21% | 12.07% | 2.90% | 18.03% |
| 2020 | 61.43% | 12.05% | 3.13% | 18.32% |
| 2021 | 58.48% | 12.74% | 3.48% | 19.93% |
Driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian drivers have the lowest average salary at $33,549.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $33,938 |
| White | $34,295 |
| Black or African American | $33,676 |
| Asian | $33,549 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $33,861 |
Average driver age
See how the average age of drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
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 |
Driver age breakdown
The average age of drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the driver population.
Driver age breakdown
| Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Driver educational attainment
The most common degree for drivers is high school diploma, with 43% of drivers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 18% and bachelor's degree degree at 17%.
- High School Diploma, 43%
- Bachelor's, 18%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 12%
- Other Degrees, 10%
Drivers by degree level
| Driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 43% |
| Bachelor's | 18% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 10% |
Driver jobs you might like
Driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $35,761 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, drivers earn a median annual income of $35,294 compared to $34,964 for drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $31,663 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $34,964 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $35,294 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $35,761 |
Driver employment statistics
Most drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where drivers work.
Driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 33% |
| > 10,000 employees | 23% |
Driver jobs by company type
Employees with the driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most drivers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 26% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 2% |
Driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for drivers are transportation, manufacturing and professional.
Driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 36% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Retail | 7% |
| Hospitality | 6% |
| Automotive | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Driver turnover and employment statistics
Driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | 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 driver tenure
The average driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 346,301 drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 32% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of 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 Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | 27,666 |
| Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Wide Load Escort | 6.17% | 1,317 |
| Transit Operator | 8.69% | 30,489 |
| Bus Aide | 8.77% | 47,159 |
Similar driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | 27,666 |
| Wide Load Escort | 6.17% | 1,317 |
| Transit Operator | 8.69% | 30,489 |
| Bus Aide | 8.77% | 47,159 |
Foreign languages spoken by drivers
The most common foreign language among drivers is Spanish at 71.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.8% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 3.8%.
- Spanish, 71.2%
- French, 6.8%
- Arabic, 3.8%
- Portuguese, 2.4%
- Russian, 2.3%
- Other, 13.5%
Driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 71.2% |
| French | 6.8% |
| Arabic | 3.8% |
| Portuguese | 2.4% |
| Russian | 2.3% |
| Other | 13.5% |
