Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Vehicle operator salary
Average vehicle operator salary
$51,505
Understanding Vehicle Operator Salaries
The average salary for a Vehicle Operator is approximately $51,505 annually. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, Vehicle Operators in high-demand areas or specialized sectors may command higher salaries.
Where Can Vehicle Operators Earn More?
States like California and Texas typically offer higher salaries, while cities such as San Francisco and New York lead in pay rates. As you gain experience, your earning potential increases significantly, making it an attractive career choice for those who enjoy driving and logistics.
Career Opportunities
There are various opportunities for Vehicle Operators, from local delivery services to long-haul trucking. The demand for skilled operators is strong, particularly in logistics and transportation sectors. Pursuing certifications or additional training can further enhance job prospects and salary potential.
Let Zippia find your next vehicle operator job
Let Zippia find your next vehicle operator job
Where can a Vehicle Operator earn more?
Average vehicle operator salary by state
The average vehicle operator salary in Alaska, California, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average vehicle operator salary states are Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vehicle operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $75,495 | $36.30 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $64,511 | $31.01 |
| 3 | Maine | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $71,012 | $34.14 |
| 5 | Kansas | $58,605 | $28.18 |
| 6 | Delaware | $63,928 | $30.73 |
| 7 | Vermont | $57,406 | $27.60 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $53,503 | $25.72 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| 10 | California | $70,833 | $34.05 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $65,224 | $31.36 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $52,808 | $25.39 |
| 13 | Iowa | $62,716 | $30.15 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $48,787 | $23.46 |
| 15 | Arizona | $55,858 | $26.85 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $56,101 | $26.97 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| 19 | Ohio | $55,903 | $26.88 |
| 20 | New York | $55,454 | $26.66 |
| 21 | Idaho | $46,847 | $22.52 |
| 22 | Illinois | $53,067 | $25.51 |
| 23 | Nevada | $54,423 | $26.16 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $45,643 | $21.94 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $47,836 | $23.00 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $45,267 | $21.76 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $45,712 | $21.98 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $51,258 | $24.64 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $45,839 | $22.04 |
| 30 | Maryland | $51,942 | $24.97 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $49,868 | $23.98 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $45,447 | $21.85 |
| 33 | Virginia | $46,202 | $22.21 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $48,405 | $23.27 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| 36 | Michigan | $41,498 | $19.95 |
| 37 | Missouri | $47,078 | $22.63 |
| 38 | Georgia | $41,181 | $19.80 |
| 39 | Utah | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 40 | Montana | $39,898 | $19.18 |
| 41 | Alabama | $41,242 | $19.83 |
| 42 | Indiana | $40,826 | $19.63 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $40,321 | $19.39 |
| 44 | Washington | $40,795 | $19.61 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $40,199 | $19.33 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $38,843 | $18.67 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $39,694 | $19.08 |
| 48 | Texas | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| 49 | Colorado | $36,333 | $17.47 |
| 50 | Oregon | $39,717 | $19.09 |
| 51 | Florida | $34,447 | $16.56 |
Highest paying cities for vehicle operators
The highest-paying cities for vehicle operators are Mountain View, CA, Yuma, AZ, and Findlay, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain View, CA | $73,041 | $35.12 |
| 2 | Yuma, AZ | $57,218 | $27.51 |
| 3 | Findlay, OH | $55,794 | $26.82 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $55,104 | $26.49 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $53,616 | $25.78 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,896 | $24.95 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $49,001 | $23.56 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $45,972 | $22.10 |
| 9 | Hamilton, NJ | $45,086 | $21.68 |
| 10 | Southaven, MS | $44,371 | $21.33 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $41,758 | $20.08 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $41,674 | $20.04 |
| 13 | Marietta, GA | $41,072 | $19.75 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $40,788 | $19.61 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $40,336 | $19.39 |
| 16 | Enid, OK | $39,709 | $19.09 |
| 17 | Aurora, CO | $36,225 | $17.42 |
| 18 | Pompano Beach, FL | $34,775 | $16.72 |
Vehicle operator salary details
A vehicle operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a 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 | $51,505 | $4,292 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying vehicle operator jobs
The highest paying types of 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 |
| Motor Vehicle Operator | $51,498 | $4,292 | $24.76 | 27,666 |
Top companies hiring vehicle operators now:
Which companies pay vehicle operators the most?
Vehicle operator salaries at Tesla and Stoneridge are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vehicle operator salary at companies like Whirlpool and Kaiser Permanente are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla | $110,641 | $53.19 |
| 2 | Stoneridge | $98,098 | $47.16 |
| 3 | Whirlpool | $91,308 | $43.90 |
| 4 | Kaiser Permanente | $90,196 | $43.36 |
| 5 | Lorven Technologies | $89,390 | $42.98 |
| 6 | Emory Healthcare | $85,276 | $41.00 |
| 7 | VSE | $79,974 | $38.45 |
| 8 | Northrop Grumman | $75,755 | $36.42 |
| 9 | Emory University | $73,569 | $35.37 |
| 10 | Vectrus | $70,717 | $34.00 |
| 11 | Kett Engineering | $56,075 | $26.96 |
| 12 | MSX International | $53,774 | $25.85 |
| 13 | KBR | $53,641 | $25.79 |
| 14 | City of Detroit | $53,396 | $25.67 |
| 15 | Shield AI | $51,737 | $24.87 |
| 16 | D2S | $51,737 | $24.87 |
| 17 | Udelv | $51,737 | $24.87 |
| 18 | Ridecell | $51,699 | $24.86 |
| 19 | AEVEX Aerospace | $51,587 | $24.80 |
| 20 | Paratransit | $50,462 | $24.26 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vehicle operator salary trends
The average vehicle operator salary has risen by $13,843 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vehicle operator earned $37,662 annually, but today, they earn $51,505 a year. That works out to a 37% change in pay for vehicle operators over the last decade.
Compare vehicle operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vehicle operator salary over time
Compare vehicle operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
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 | $20.23 | +12.3% |
| 2022 | $36,900 | $17.75 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | $37,600 | $18.09 | -7.7% |
Recently added vehicle operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua | Medical Transport Vehicle Operator Day | Mount Laurel, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $36,836 |
| Voxelmaps | Mapping Vehicle Operator | Syracuse, NY | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Rydell Cars | Vehicle Prep | Sioux Falls, SD | 06/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| Synchro | Autonomous Vehicle Operator | Ottawa, KS | 06/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| Whirlpool | Power Vehicle Operator | Marion, OH | 06/25/2025 | $42,262 |
| ASRC Federal Holding Company | Operator, Fire Vehicle | Enid, OK | 06/25/2025 | $51,382 |
| Voxelmaps | Mapping Vehicle Operator | Farmington, NM | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Voxelmaps | Mapping Vehicle Operator | Bode, IA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Voxelmaps | Mapping Vehicle Operator | Columbus, NE | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Voxelmaps | Mapping Vehicle Operator-Remote | Atlanta, GA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
Vehicle operator salary FAQs
Search for vehicle operator jobs