Lead driver demographics and statistics in the US
Lead driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates lead driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our lead 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 lead drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 29,849 lead drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 13.3% of all lead drivers are women, while 86.7% are men.
- The average lead driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of lead drivers is White (58.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.9%), Black or African American (12.3%) and Unknown (4.5%).
- Lead drivers are most in-demand in Seattle, WA.
- The technology industry is the highest-paying for lead drivers.
- Newark, NJ pays an annual average wage of $57,250, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women lead drivers earned 87% of what men earned.
- 4% of all lead drivers are LGBT.
- West Virginia is the best state for lead drivers to live.
- Lead drivers are 67% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Lead driver demographics by:
Lead driver gender statistics
13.3% of lead drivers are women and 86.7% of lead drivers are men.
- Male, 86.7%
- Female, 13.3%
Lead driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 86.7% |
| Female | 13.3% |
Lead driver gender pay gap
Women earn 87¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$42,344
Female income
$36,871
Lead driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in lead driver positions over time. Currently, 13.3% of lead drivers are female.
Lead driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 90.05% | 9.95% |
| 2011 | 89.76% | 10.24% |
| 2012 | 88.91% | 11.09% |
| 2013 | 88.50% | 11.50% |
| 2014 | 88.10% | 11.90% |
| 2015 | 88.24% | 11.76% |
| 2016 | 87.88% | 12.12% |
| 2017 | 87.65% | 12.35% |
| 2018 | 86.30% | 13.70% |
| 2019 | 86.54% | 13.46% |
| 2020 | 86.77% | 13.23% |
| 2021 | 86.67% | 13.33% |
Lead driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared lead 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% |
| Lead Driver | 87% | 13% |
| 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%
Lead driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among lead drivers is White, which makes up 58.1% of all lead drivers. Comparatively, 20.9% of lead drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.3% of lead drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 58.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.9%
- Black or African American, 12.3%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- Asian, 3.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Lead driver race
| Lead driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.9% |
| Black or African American | 12.3% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| Asian | 3.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Lead driver race and ethnicity over time
See how lead driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Lead driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.16% | 10.98% | 2.25% | 17.19% |
| 2011 | 66.79% | 11.37% | 2.27% | 17.08% |
| 2012 | 66.08% | 11.51% | 2.42% | 17.42% |
| 2013 | 66.16% | 11.05% | 2.34% | 17.94% |
| 2014 | 65.89% | 11.50% | 2.52% | 17.59% |
| 2015 | 64.98% | 11.83% | 2.56% | 18.05% |
| 2016 | 64.19% | 11.47% | 2.66% | 18.92% |
| 2017 | 63.98% | 11.59% | 2.68% | 19.09% |
| 2018 | 63.49% | 11.64% | 2.98% | 19.10% |
| 2019 | 63.87% | 11.60% | 2.80% | 19.00% |
| 2020 | 61.09% | 11.58% | 3.04% | 19.29% |
| 2021 | 58.14% | 12.27% | 3.38% | 20.90% |
Lead driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white lead drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian lead drivers have the lowest average salary at $41,926.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $42,454 |
| White | $42,895 |
| Black or African American | $42,104 |
| Asian | $41,926 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $42,346 |
Average lead driver age
See how the average age of lead drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Lead 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 |
Lead driver age breakdown
The average age of lead drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the lead driver population.
Lead driver age breakdown
| Lead Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Lead driver educational attainment
The most common degree for lead drivers is high school diploma, with 40% of lead drivers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 18%.
- High School Diploma, 40%
- Associate, 21%
- Bachelor's, 18%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 10%
Lead drivers by degree level
| Lead driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 40% |
| Associate | 21% |
| Bachelor's | 18% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 10% |
Lead driver jobs you might like
Lead driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, lead drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $45,111 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, lead drivers earn a median annual income of $44,508 compared to $44,031 for lead drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $39,434 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $44,031 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $44,508 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $45,111 |
Lead driver employment statistics
Most lead drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where lead drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where lead drivers work.
Lead driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 27% |
| > 10,000 employees | 28% |
Lead driver jobs by company type
Employees with the lead driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most lead drivers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Lead driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 27% |
| Private | 67% |
| Government | 4% |
Lead driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for lead drivers are transportation, manufacturing and retail.
Lead driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 13% |
| Retail | 11% |
| Fortune 500 | 11% |
| Hospitality | 6% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Government | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Lead driver turnover and employment statistics
Lead driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for lead drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lead driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | Lead 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 lead driver tenure
The average lead driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 5,780 lead drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Lead driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 15% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 10% |
Lead driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of lead 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Gate Driver | 1.73% | 6,045 |
| Lead Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Taxi Driver Supervisor | 6.17% | 152,025 |
| Transit Coach Operator | 8.69% | 40,390 |
| School Bus Aide | 8.77% | 62,917 |
Similar lead driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Gate Driver | 1.73% | 6,045 |
| Taxi Driver Supervisor | 6.17% | 152,025 |
| Transit Coach Operator | 8.69% | 40,390 |
| School Bus Aide | 8.77% | 62,917 |
Foreign languages spoken by lead drivers
The most common foreign language among lead drivers is Spanish at 70.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 4.7% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 3.5%.
- Spanish, 70.6%
- French, 4.7%
- Portuguese, 3.5%
- German, 2.4%
- Arabic, 2.4%
- Other, 16.4%
Lead driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 70.6% |
| French | 4.7% |
| Portuguese | 3.5% |
| German | 2.4% |
| Arabic | 2.4% |
| Other | 16.4% |
