Truck driver demographics and statistics in the US
Truck driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates truck driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our 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 truck drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 1,495,809 truck drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 8.4% of all truck drivers are women, while 91.6% are men.
- The average truck driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of truck drivers is White (59.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.6%), Black or African American (12.8%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Truck drivers are most in-demand in Atlanta, GA.
- Wilmington, DE pays an annual average wage of $70,911, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women truck drivers earned 88% of what men earned.
- Kentucky is the best state for truck drivers to live.
- Truck drivers are 71% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Truck driver demographics by:
Truck driver gender statistics
8.4% of truck drivers are women and 91.6% of truck drivers are men.
- Male, 91.6%
- Female, 8.4%
Truck driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 91.6% |
| Female | 8.4% |
Truck driver gender pay gap
Women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$58,542
Female income
$51,640
Truck driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in truck driver positions over time. Currently, 8.4% of truck drivers are female.
Truck driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 93.84% | 6.16% |
| 2011 | 93.65% | 6.35% |
| 2012 | 93.10% | 6.90% |
| 2013 | 92.83% | 7.17% |
| 2014 | 92.57% | 7.43% |
| 2015 | 92.66% | 7.34% |
| 2016 | 92.43% | 7.57% |
| 2017 | 92.28% | 7.72% |
| 2018 | 91.38% | 8.62% |
| 2019 | 91.54% | 8.46% |
| 2020 | 91.70% | 8.30% |
| 2021 | 91.63% | 8.37% |
Truck driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared 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% |
| Truck Driver | 92% | 8% |
| 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%
Truck driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among truck drivers is White, which makes up 59.8% of all truck drivers. Comparatively, 18.6% of truck drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.8% of truck drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 59.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.6%
- Black or African American, 12.8%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Asian, 3.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Truck driver race
| Truck driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.6% |
| Black or African American | 12.8% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Asian | 3.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Truck driver race and ethnicity over time
See how truck driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Truck driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.84% | 11.50% | 2.30% | 14.91% |
| 2011 | 68.47% | 11.88% | 2.32% | 14.80% |
| 2012 | 67.76% | 12.03% | 2.47% | 15.14% |
| 2013 | 67.84% | 11.57% | 2.39% | 15.66% |
| 2014 | 67.57% | 12.01% | 2.57% | 15.31% |
| 2015 | 66.66% | 12.35% | 2.61% | 15.77% |
| 2016 | 65.87% | 11.98% | 2.71% | 16.64% |
| 2017 | 65.66% | 12.11% | 2.73% | 16.81% |
| 2018 | 65.17% | 12.15% | 3.03% | 16.82% |
| 2019 | 65.55% | 12.12% | 2.85% | 16.72% |
| 2020 | 62.77% | 12.10% | 3.09% | 17.01% |
| 2021 | 59.82% | 12.79% | 3.43% | 18.62% |
Truck driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white truck drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian truck drivers have the lowest average salary at $58,019.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $58,681 |
| White | $59,233 |
| Black or African American | $58,241 |
| Asian | $58,019 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $58,545 |
Average truck driver age
See how the average age of truck drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
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 |
Truck driver age breakdown
The average age of truck drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the truck driver population.
Truck driver age breakdown
| Truck Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Truck driver educational attainment
The most common degree for truck drivers is high school diploma, with 48% of truck drivers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 48%
- Associate, 16%
- Diploma, 13%
- Bachelor's, 11%
- Other Degrees, 12%
Truck drivers by degree level
| Truck driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 48% |
| Associate | 16% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Bachelor's | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 12% |
Truck driver jobs you might like
Truck driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, truck drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $62,000 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, truck drivers earn a median annual income of $61,248 compared to $60,653 for truck drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $54,884 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $60,653 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $61,248 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $62,000 |
Truck driver employment statistics
Most truck drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where truck drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where truck drivers work.
Truck driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 32% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Truck driver jobs by company type
Employees with the truck driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most truck drivers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Truck driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 25% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 3% |
Truck driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for truck drivers are transportation, manufacturing and retail.
Truck driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 41% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Media | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Truck driver turnover and employment statistics
Truck driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for truck drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Truck driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | 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 truck driver tenure
The average truck driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 156,209 truck drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Truck driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 34% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Truck driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | 27,441 |
| Truck Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Bicycle Taxi Driver | 6.17% | 122,950 |
| Charter Driver | 8.69% | 44,652 |
| Special Client Bus Driver | 8.77% | 45,008 |
Similar truck driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | 27,441 |
| Bicycle Taxi Driver | 6.17% | 122,950 |
| Charter Driver | 8.69% | 44,652 |
| Special Client Bus Driver | 8.77% | 45,008 |
Foreign languages spoken by truck drivers
The most common foreign language among truck drivers is Spanish at 71.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 5.5% and French is the third-most popular at 4.9%.
- Spanish, 71.8%
- Carrier, 5.5%
- French, 4.9%
- Portuguese, 3.1%
- Arabic, 2.4%
- Other, 12.3%
Truck driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 71.8% |
| Carrier | 5.5% |
| French | 4.9% |
| Portuguese | 3.1% |
| Arabic | 2.4% |
| Other | 12.3% |
