Semi truck driver demographics and statistics in the US
Semi truck driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates semi truck driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our semi truck 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 semi truck drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 1,143,198 semi truck drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 9.8% of all semi truck drivers are women, while 90.2% are men.
- The average semi truck driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of semi truck drivers is White (62.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.1%), Black or African American (11.9%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Semi truck drivers are most in-demand in Plainfield, WI.
- The transportation industry is the highest-paying for semi truck drivers.
- Bismarck, ND pays an annual average wage of $78,396, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women semi truck drivers earned 88% of what men earned.
- 4% of all semi truck drivers are LGBT.
- Illinois is the best state for semi truck drivers to live.
- Semi truck drivers are 79% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Semi truck driver demographics by:
Semi truck driver gender statistics
9.8% of semi truck drivers are women and 90.2% of semi truck drivers are men.
- Male, 90.2%
- Female, 9.8%
Semi truck driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 90.2% |
| Female | 9.8% |
Semi truck driver gender pay gap
Women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$56,014
Female income
$49,438
Semi truck driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in semi truck driver positions over time. Currently, 9.8% of semi truck drivers are female.
Semi truck driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 92.73% | 7.27% |
| 2011 | 92.51% | 7.49% |
| 2012 | 91.87% | 8.13% |
| 2013 | 91.56% | 8.44% |
| 2014 | 91.26% | 8.74% |
| 2015 | 91.37% | 8.63% |
| 2016 | 91.09% | 8.91% |
| 2017 | 90.92% | 9.08% |
| 2018 | 89.88% | 10.12% |
| 2019 | 90.07% | 9.93% |
| 2020 | 90.24% | 9.76% |
| 2021 | 90.16% | 9.84% |
Semi truck driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared semi truck 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% |
| Semi Truck Driver | 90% | 10% |
| 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%
Semi truck driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among semi truck drivers is White, which makes up 62.1% of all semi truck drivers. Comparatively, 17.1% of semi truck drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 11.9% of semi truck drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 62.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.1%
- Black or African American, 11.9%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Asian, 3.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Semi truck driver race
| Semi truck driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 62.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.1% |
| Black or African American | 11.9% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Asian | 3.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Semi truck driver race and ethnicity over time
See how semi truck driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Semi truck driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.13% | 10.59% | 2.36% | 13.43% |
| 2011 | 70.77% | 10.98% | 2.38% | 13.32% |
| 2012 | 70.05% | 11.12% | 2.53% | 13.66% |
| 2013 | 70.14% | 10.66% | 2.44% | 14.18% |
| 2014 | 69.86% | 11.10% | 2.63% | 13.83% |
| 2015 | 68.95% | 11.44% | 2.67% | 14.29% |
| 2016 | 68.16% | 11.08% | 2.76% | 15.16% |
| 2017 | 67.95% | 11.20% | 2.79% | 15.33% |
| 2018 | 67.46% | 11.25% | 3.08% | 15.34% |
| 2019 | 67.84% | 11.21% | 2.91% | 15.24% |
| 2020 | 65.06% | 11.19% | 3.14% | 15.53% |
| 2021 | 62.11% | 11.88% | 3.49% | 17.14% |
Semi truck driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white semi truck drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian semi truck drivers have the lowest average salary at $55,515.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $56,145 |
| White | $56,671 |
| Black or African American | $55,727 |
| Asian | $55,515 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $56,016 |
Average semi truck driver age
See how the average age of semi truck drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Semi truck 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 |
Semi truck driver age breakdown
The average age of semi truck drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the semi truck driver population.
Semi truck driver age breakdown
| Semi Truck Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Semi truck driver educational attainment
The most common degree for semi truck drivers is high school diploma, with 40% of semi truck drivers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 16%.
- High School Diploma, 40%
- Associate, 21%
- Bachelor's, 16%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 12%
Semi truck drivers by degree level
| Semi truck driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 40% |
| Associate | 21% |
| Bachelor's | 16% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 12% |
Semi truck driver jobs you might like
Semi truck driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, semi truck drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $59,306 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, semi truck drivers earn a median annual income of $58,590 compared to $58,024 for semi truck drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,528 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $58,024 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $58,590 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $59,306 |
Semi truck driver employment statistics
Most semi truck drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where semi truck drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where semi truck drivers work.
Semi truck driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Semi truck driver jobs by company type
Employees with the semi truck driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most semi truck drivers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Semi truck driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 17% |
| Private | 79% |
| Government | 2% |
Semi truck driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for semi truck drivers are transportation, manufacturing and retail.
Semi truck driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 39% |
| Manufacturing | 12% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Semi truck driver turnover and employment statistics
Semi truck driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for semi truck drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Semi truck driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | Semi truck 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 semi truck driver tenure
The average semi truck driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,149 semi truck drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Semi truck driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 33% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Semi truck driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of semi truck 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 Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| Semi Truck Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Patient Transportation Driver | 6.17% | 216,429 |
| Motor Coach Driver | 8.69% | 90,672 |
| School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant | 8.77% | 70,538 |
Similar semi truck driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| Patient Transportation Driver | 6.17% | 216,429 |
| Motor Coach Driver | 8.69% | 90,672 |
| School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant | 8.77% | 70,538 |
Foreign languages spoken by semi truck drivers
The most common foreign language among semi truck drivers is Spanish at 50.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 12.5% and Dakota is the third-most popular at 8.3%.
- Spanish, 50.0%
- Carrier, 12.5%
- Dakota, 8.3%
- Filipino, 4.2%
- German, 4.2%
- Other, 20.8%
Semi truck driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 50.0% |
| Carrier | 12.5% |
| Dakota | 8.3% |
| Filipino | 4.2% |
| German | 4.2% |
| Other | 20.8% |
