Driver/owner operator demographics and statistics in the US
Driver/owner operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates driver/owner operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our driver/owner operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about driver/owner operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 83,004 driver/owner operators currently employed in the United States.
- 10.6% of all driver/owner operators are women, while 89.4% are men.
- The average driver/owner operator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of driver/owner operators is White (56.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.6%), Black or African American (12.8%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 76% of what men earned.
- 4% of all driver/owner operators are LGBT.
- Driver/owner operators are 70% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Driver/owner operator demographics by:
Driver/owner operator gender statistics
10.6% of driver/owner operators are women and 89.4% of driver/owner operators are men.
- Male, 89.4%
- Female, 10.6%
Driver/owner operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 89.4% |
| Female | 10.6% |
Driver/owner operator gender pay gap
Women earn 76¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$158,896
Female income
$120,422
Driver/owner operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in driver/owner operator positions over time. Currently, 10.6% of driver/owner operators are female.
Driver/owner operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 92.17% | 7.83% |
| 2011 | 91.93% | 8.07% |
| 2012 | 91.25% | 8.75% |
| 2013 | 90.92% | 9.08% |
| 2014 | 90.59% | 9.41% |
| 2015 | 90.71% | 9.29% |
| 2016 | 90.41% | 9.59% |
| 2017 | 90.23% | 9.77% |
| 2018 | 89.12% | 10.88% |
| 2019 | 89.32% | 10.68% |
| 2020 | 89.51% | 10.49% |
| 2021 | 89.43% | 10.57% |
Driver/owner operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared driver/owner operators 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/Owner Operator | 89% | 11% |
| 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/owner operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among driver/owner operators is White, which makes up 56.2% of all driver/owner operators. Comparatively, 21.6% of driver/owner operators are Hispanic or Latino and 12.8% of driver/owner operators are Black or African American.
- White, 56.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.6%
- Black or African American, 12.8%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 3.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Driver/owner operator race
| Driver/owner operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 56.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.6% |
| Black or African American | 12.8% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Driver/owner operator race and ethnicity over time
See how driver/owner operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Driver/owner operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.25% | 11.48% | 2.68% | 17.89% |
| 2011 | 64.88% | 11.86% | 2.70% | 17.78% |
| 2012 | 64.17% | 12.01% | 2.85% | 18.12% |
| 2013 | 64.25% | 11.54% | 2.77% | 18.64% |
| 2014 | 63.98% | 11.99% | 2.95% | 18.29% |
| 2015 | 63.07% | 12.32% | 2.99% | 18.75% |
| 2016 | 62.28% | 11.96% | 3.09% | 19.62% |
| 2017 | 62.07% | 12.08% | 3.11% | 19.79% |
| 2018 | 61.58% | 12.13% | 3.41% | 19.80% |
| 2019 | 61.96% | 12.10% | 3.23% | 19.70% |
| 2020 | 59.18% | 12.08% | 3.47% | 19.99% |
| 2021 | 56.23% | 12.77% | 3.81% | 21.60% |
Driver/owner operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white driver/owner operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian driver/owner operators have the lowest average salary at $155,772.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $159,727 |
| White | $163,067 |
| Black or African American | $157,096 |
| Asian | $155,772 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $158,914 |
Average driver/owner operator age
See how the average age of driver/owner operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Driver/owner operator 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/owner operator age breakdown
The average age of driver/owner operators is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the driver/owner operator population.
Driver/owner operator age breakdown
| Driver/Owner Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Driver/owner operator educational attainment
The most common degree for driver/owner operators is high school diploma, with 44% of driver/owner operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 44%
- Associate, 17%
- Bachelor's, 14%
- Diploma, 13%
- Other Degrees, 12%
Driver/owner operators by degree level
| Driver/owner operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 44% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Bachelor's | 14% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Other Degrees | 12% |
Driver/owner operator jobs you might like
Driver/owner operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, driver/owner operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $180,380 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, driver/owner operators earn a median annual income of $175,580 compared to $171,834 for driver/owner operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $137,775 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $171,834 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $175,580 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $180,380 |
Driver/owner operator employment statistics
Most driver/owner operators work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where driver/owner operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where driver/owner operators work.
Driver/owner operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 22% |
Driver/owner operator jobs by company type
Employees with the driver/owner operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most driver/owner operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Driver/owner operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 70% |
| Government | 5% |
Driver/owner operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for driver/owner operators are transportation, manufacturing and construction.
Driver/owner operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 36% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Construction | 7% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Energy | 7% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Government | 4% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Driver/owner operator turnover and employment statistics
Driver/owner operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for driver/owner operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Driver/owner operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Driver/owner operator 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/owner operator tenure
The average driver/owner operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 20,350 driver/owner operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Driver/owner operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Driver/owner operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of driver/owner operators 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 |
| Driver/Owner Operator | 3.95% | - |
| Motor Coach Chauffeur | 6.17% | 15,327 |
| Coach Operator | 8.69% | 43,963 |
| Bus Driver/Monitor | 8.77% | 15,993 |
Similar driver/owner operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| Motor Coach Chauffeur | 6.17% | 15,327 |
| Coach Operator | 8.69% | 43,963 |
| Bus Driver/Monitor | 8.77% | 15,993 |
Foreign languages spoken by driver/owner operators
The most common foreign language among driver/owner operators is Spanish at 66.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.7% and Russian is the third-most popular at 4.2%.
- Spanish, 66.1%
- French, 6.7%
- Russian, 4.2%
- Carrier, 3.3%
- Arabic, 3.3%
- Other, 16.4%
Driver/owner operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 66.1% |
| French | 6.7% |
| Russian | 4.2% |
| Carrier | 3.3% |
| Arabic | 3.3% |
| Other | 16.4% |
