Transportation driver demographics and statistics in the US
Transportation driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates transportation driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our transportation 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 transportation drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 489,809 transportation drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 27.2% of all transportation drivers are women, while 72.8% are men.
- The average transportation driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of transportation drivers is White (59.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.0%), Black or African American (12.8%) and Unknown (4.7%).
- Transportation drivers are most in-demand in Sacramento, CA.
- Cheyenne, WY pays an annual average wage of $59,619, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women transportation drivers earned 86% of what men earned.
- North Dakota is the best state for transportation drivers to live.
- Transportation drivers are 73% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Transportation driver demographics by:
Transportation driver gender statistics
27.2% of transportation drivers are women and 72.8% of transportation drivers are men.
- Male, 72.8%
- Female, 27.2%
Transportation driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 72.8% |
| Female | 27.2% |
Transportation driver gender pay gap
Women earn 86¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$41,713
Female income
$35,904
Transportation driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in transportation driver positions over time. Currently, 27.2% of transportation drivers are female.
Transportation driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78.84% | 21.16% |
| 2011 | 78.29% | 21.71% |
| 2012 | 76.74% | 23.26% |
| 2013 | 76.00% | 24.00% |
| 2014 | 75.29% | 24.71% |
| 2015 | 75.54% | 24.46% |
| 2016 | 74.90% | 25.10% |
| 2017 | 74.50% | 25.50% |
| 2018 | 72.17% | 27.83% |
| 2019 | 72.58% | 27.42% |
| 2020 | 72.98% | 27.02% |
| 2021 | 72.79% | 27.21% |
Transportation driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared transportation 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% |
| Transportation Driver | 73% | 27% |
| 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%
Transportation driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among transportation drivers is White, which makes up 59.1% of all transportation drivers. Comparatively, 19.0% of transportation drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.8% of transportation drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 59.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.0%
- Black or African American, 12.8%
- Unknown, 4.7%
- Asian, 3.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Transportation driver race
| Transportation driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.0% |
| Black or African American | 12.8% |
| Unknown | 4.7% |
| Asian | 3.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Transportation driver race and ethnicity over time
See how transportation driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Transportation driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.16% | 11.54% | 2.48% | 15.25% |
| 2011 | 67.80% | 11.92% | 2.50% | 15.14% |
| 2012 | 67.08% | 12.07% | 2.65% | 15.48% |
| 2013 | 67.17% | 11.60% | 2.57% | 16.00% |
| 2014 | 66.90% | 12.05% | 2.75% | 15.65% |
| 2015 | 65.98% | 12.38% | 2.79% | 16.11% |
| 2016 | 65.19% | 12.02% | 2.88% | 16.98% |
| 2017 | 64.99% | 12.14% | 2.91% | 17.15% |
| 2018 | 64.49% | 12.19% | 3.21% | 17.16% |
| 2019 | 64.88% | 12.16% | 3.03% | 17.06% |
| 2020 | 62.10% | 12.14% | 3.26% | 17.35% |
| 2021 | 59.15% | 12.83% | 3.61% | 18.96% |
Transportation driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white transportation drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian transportation drivers have the lowest average salary at $41,267.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $41,830 |
| White | $42,301 |
| Black or African American | $41,456 |
| Asian | $41,267 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $41,715 |
Average transportation driver age
See how the average age of transportation drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Transportation 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 |
Transportation driver age breakdown
The average age of transportation drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the transportation driver population.
Transportation driver age breakdown
| Transportation Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Transportation driver educational attainment
The most common degree for transportation drivers is high school diploma, with 38% of transportation 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, 38%
- Associate, 21%
- Bachelor's, 18%
- Diploma, 12%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Transportation drivers by degree level
| Transportation driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 38% |
| Associate | 21% |
| Bachelor's | 18% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Transportation driver jobs you might like
Transportation driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, transportation drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $44,674 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, transportation drivers earn a median annual income of $44,027 compared to $43,517 for transportation drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $38,616 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,517 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $44,027 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $44,674 |
Transportation driver employment statistics
Most transportation drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where transportation drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where transportation drivers work.
Transportation driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 28% |
| > 10,000 employees | 22% |
Transportation driver jobs by company type
Employees with the transportation driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most transportation drivers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Transportation driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 20% |
| Private | 73% |
| Government | 3% |
Transportation driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for transportation drivers are transportation, hospitality and professional.
Transportation driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 18% |
| Hospitality | 9% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Energy | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Government | 3% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Education | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Agriculture | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Transportation driver turnover and employment statistics
Transportation driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for transportation drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Transportation driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | Transportation 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 transportation driver tenure
The average transportation driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 15,851 transportation drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Transportation driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Transportation driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of transportation 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Street Cleaning Equipment Operator | 1.73% | 49,524 |
| Transportation Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Motor Coach Chauffeur | 6.17% | 15,327 |
| Transit Coach Operator | 8.69% | 40,390 |
| Special Education Bus Driver | 8.77% | 22,974 |
Similar transportation driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Street Cleaning Equipment Operator | 1.73% | 49,524 |
| Motor Coach Chauffeur | 6.17% | 15,327 |
| Transit Coach Operator | 8.69% | 40,390 |
| Special Education Bus Driver | 8.77% | 22,974 |
Foreign languages spoken by transportation drivers
The most common foreign language among transportation drivers is Spanish at 72.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.0% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 3.7%.
- Spanish, 72.5%
- French, 6.0%
- Arabic, 3.7%
- Italian, 2.8%
- Japanese, 1.8%
- Other, 13.2%
Transportation driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 72.5% |
| French | 6.0% |
| Arabic | 3.7% |
| Italian | 2.8% |
| Japanese | 1.8% |
| Other | 13.2% |
