Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Motor vehicle operator salary
Average motor vehicle operator salary
$51,498
Understanding Motor Vehicle Operator Salaries
The role of a Motor Vehicle Operator encompasses a range of responsibilities, from driving delivery trucks to operating public transport vehicles. The average salary for this position is $51,498 annually, with factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry affecting pay rates significantly.
For instance, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for drivers. Operators in specialized fields, such as emergency services or logistics, may also earn more than those in general transport roles.
To enhance earning potential, aspiring motor vehicle operators can focus on gaining certifications, accumulating experience, or pursuing leadership roles within their organizations. As the transportation sector evolves, opportunities for career advancement and salary increases remain promising.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience: More tenure often leads to higher wages.
- Industry: Specialized fields tend to pay more.
- Location: Urban areas may offer better salaries due to demand.
For those considering a career as a motor vehicle operator, understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insights into potential earnings and career pathways.
Let Zippia find your next motor vehicle operator job
Let Zippia find your next motor vehicle operator job
Where can a Motor Vehicle Operator earn more?
Motor vehicle operator salary estimates from across the web
Average motor vehicle operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for motor vehicle operators are Alaska, California, and Maine. The lowest average motor vehicle operator salary states are Oregon, Arkansas, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for motor vehicle operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $75,495 | $36.30 |
| 2 | Maine | $65,448 | $31.47 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $70,987 | $34.13 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $61,441 | $29.54 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $63,146 | $30.36 |
| 6 | Delaware | $63,907 | $30.72 |
| 7 | Kansas | $58,605 | $28.18 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $65,226 | $31.36 |
| 9 | Vermont | $57,386 | $27.59 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $53,503 | $25.72 |
| 11 | California | $69,140 | $33.24 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $60,974 | $29.31 |
| 13 | Maryland | $51,927 | $24.96 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $48,782 | $23.45 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $60,051 | $28.87 |
| 17 | Ohio | $55,904 | $26.88 |
| 18 | Arizona | $55,858 | $26.85 |
| 19 | Missouri | $56,021 | $26.93 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $48,471 | $23.30 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $45,643 | $21.94 |
| 22 | Nevada | $54,409 | $26.16 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $51,258 | $24.64 |
| 24 | Illinois | $53,067 | $25.51 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $47,836 | $23.00 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $45,712 | $21.98 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $51,482 | $24.75 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $43,923 | $21.12 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $45,267 | $21.76 |
| 30 | New York | $51,348 | $24.69 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $45,447 | $21.85 |
| 32 | Washington | $48,551 | $23.34 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $49,868 | $23.98 |
| 34 | Virginia | $46,198 | $22.21 |
| 35 | Texas | $45,038 | $21.65 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| 37 | Utah | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 38 | Alabama | $41,242 | $19.83 |
| 39 | Georgia | $41,181 | $19.80 |
| 40 | Michigan | $41,469 | $19.94 |
| 41 | Idaho | $41,109 | $19.76 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $40,199 | $19.33 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $40,321 | $19.39 |
| 44 | Indiana | $40,826 | $19.63 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $39,694 | $19.08 |
| 46 | Montana | $36,654 | $17.62 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $38,843 | $18.67 |
| 48 | Colorado | $36,333 | $17.47 |
| 49 | Oregon | $39,688 | $19.08 |
| 50 | Florida | $32,550 | $15.65 |
| 51 | Iowa | $31,342 | $15.07 |
Highest paying cities for motor vehicle operators
The highest-paying cities for motor vehicle operators are Palo Alto, CA, Washington, DC, and Newport, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $71,207 | $34.23 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $71,006 | $34.14 |
| 3 | Newport, RI | $61,546 | $29.59 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,481 | $26.67 |
| 5 | Bismarck, ND | $52,486 | $25.23 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,681 | $24.85 |
| 7 | Bay Shore, NY | $51,376 | $24.70 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,798 | $23.94 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $49,536 | $23.82 |
| 10 | McLean, VA | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| 11 | Fort Hood, TX | $46,006 | $22.12 |
| 12 | Nampa, ID | $41,499 | $19.95 |
| 13 | Ogden, UT | $41,238 | $19.83 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $40,329 | $19.39 |
| 15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $32,995 | $15.86 |
| 16 | Iowa City, IA | $31,914 | $15.34 |
Motor vehicle operator salary details
A motor vehicle operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a motor vehicle operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $51,498 | $4,292 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying motor vehicle operator jobs
The highest paying types of motor vehicle operators are starting gate driver, assembly line driver, and street sweeper.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Transport Operator | $51,498 | $4,291 | $24.76 | 26,744 |
| Vehicle Operator | $51,505 | $4,292 | $24.76 | 27,441 |
Top companies hiring motor vehicle operators now:
Which companies pay motor vehicle operators the most?
Motor vehicle operator salaries at General Dynamics Mission Systems and Northwell Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average motor vehicle operator salary at companies like Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital and University at Buffalo are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Dynamics Mission Systems | $105,545 | $50.74 |
| 2 | Northwell Health | $95,722 | $46.02 |
| 3 | Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital | $89,414 | $42.99 |
| 4 | University at Buffalo | $71,604 | $34.42 |
| 5 | National Park Foundation | $70,521 | $33.90 |
| 6 | UW-Milwaukee | $70,367 | $33.83 |
| 7 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $67,754 | $32.57 |
| 8 | University at Albany | $67,184 | $32.30 |
| 9 | General Dynamics | $55,861 | $26.86 |
| 10 | New York State Restaurant Association | $55,731 | $26.79 |
| 11 | United States Army Corps of Engineers | $54,008 | $25.97 |
| 12 | Nes Holdings | $53,595 | $25.77 |
| 13 | Us Army Reserves | $52,778 | $25.37 |
| 14 | Army National Guard | $52,522 | $25.25 |
| 15 | United States Marine Corps | $51,892 | $24.95 |
| 16 | Air National Guard | $51,802 | $24.90 |
| 17 | CIA Inc | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| 18 | Chenega | $51,301 | $24.66 |
| 19 | State of Connecticut | $50,585 | $24.32 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin System | $49,907 | $23.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Motor vehicle operator salary trends
The average motor vehicle operator salary has risen by $13,841 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average motor vehicle operator earned $37,657 annually, but today, they earn $51,498 a year. That works out to a 37% change in pay for motor vehicle operators over the last decade.
Compare motor vehicle operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average motor vehicle operator salary over time
Compare motor vehicle operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Motor vehicle operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,500 | $24.76 | +11.5% |
| 2024 | $45,600 | $21.92 | +7.7% |
| 2023 | $42,100 | $20.22 | +12.3% |
| 2022 | $36,900 | $17.74 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | $37,600 | $18.08 | -7.7% |
Recently added motor vehicle operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suny Cortland | Motor Vehicle Operator (Moving Crew) | Cortland, NY | 06/28/2025 | $38,235 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Motor Vehicle Operator | Mather, CA | 06/28/2025 | $53,156 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Motor Vehicle Operator | Lawton, OK | 06/26/2025 | $45,643 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Motor Vehicle Operator | White River Junction, VT | 06/26/2025 | $52,217 |
| Department of The Air Force | Motor Vehicle Operator | Clearfield, UT | 06/26/2025 | $42,199 |
| Department of The Air Force | Motor Vehicle Operator (Linen) | Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA | 06/26/2025 | $40,780 |
| Stony Brook University | Mobile Health Program Motor Vehicle Operator Per Diem | Stony Brook, NY | 06/24/2025 | $38,213 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Motor Vehicle Operator | Cincinnati, OH | 06/24/2025 | $51,758 |
| University of Iowa | Motor Vehicle Operator II | Iowa City, IA | 06/22/2025 | $37,855 |
| State of Florida | OPS Motor Vehicle Operator-67965392-Sunland | Marianna, FL | 06/21/2025 | $31,305 |
Motor vehicle operator salary FAQs
Search for motor vehicle operator jobs