Truck operator demographics and statistics in the US
Truck operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates truck operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our truck operator 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 operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 510,463 truck operators currently employed in the United States.
- 7.8% of all truck operators are women, while 92.2% are men.
- The average truck operator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of truck operators is White (58.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.0%), Black or African American (12.2%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 93% of what men earned.
- 4% of all truck operators are LGBT.
- Truck operators are 65% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Truck operator demographics by:
Truck operator gender statistics
7.8% of truck operators are women and 92.2% of truck operators are men.
- Male, 92.2%
- Female, 7.8%
Truck operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 92.2% |
| Female | 7.8% |
Truck operator gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,896
Female income
$36,058
Truck operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in truck operator positions over time. Currently, 7.8% of truck operators are female.
Truck operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 94.28% | 5.72% |
| 2011 | 94.11% | 5.89% |
| 2012 | 93.59% | 6.41% |
| 2013 | 93.34% | 6.66% |
| 2014 | 93.10% | 6.90% |
| 2015 | 93.19% | 6.81% |
| 2016 | 92.97% | 7.03% |
| 2017 | 92.83% | 7.17% |
| 2018 | 91.99% | 8.01% |
| 2019 | 92.14% | 7.86% |
| 2020 | 92.28% | 7.72% |
| 2021 | 92.22% | 7.78% |
Truck operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared truck operators 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 Operator | 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 operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among truck operators is White, which makes up 58.3% of all truck operators. Comparatively, 20.0% of truck operators are Hispanic or Latino and 12.2% of truck operators are Black or African American.
- White, 58.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.0%
- Black or African American, 12.2%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Truck operator race
| Truck operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.0% |
| Black or African American | 12.2% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Truck operator race and ethnicity over time
See how truck operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Truck operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.34% | 10.87% | 2.73% | 16.32% |
| 2011 | 66.98% | 11.26% | 2.75% | 16.20% |
| 2012 | 66.26% | 11.40% | 2.90% | 16.55% |
| 2013 | 66.35% | 10.94% | 2.82% | 17.07% |
| 2014 | 66.07% | 11.38% | 3.00% | 16.71% |
| 2015 | 65.16% | 11.72% | 3.04% | 17.18% |
| 2016 | 64.37% | 11.36% | 3.14% | 18.05% |
| 2017 | 64.17% | 11.48% | 3.16% | 18.22% |
| 2018 | 63.67% | 11.53% | 3.46% | 18.23% |
| 2019 | 64.05% | 11.49% | 3.28% | 18.13% |
| 2020 | 61.27% | 11.47% | 3.52% | 18.41% |
| 2021 | 58.33% | 12.16% | 3.86% | 20.02% |
Truck operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white truck operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian truck operators have the lowest average salary at $38,686.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,952 |
| White | $39,173 |
| Black or African American | $38,775 |
| Asian | $38,686 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,897 |
Average truck operator age
See how the average age of truck operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Truck operator 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 operator age breakdown
The average age of truck operators is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the truck operator population.
Truck operator age breakdown
| Truck Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Truck operator educational attainment
The most common degree for truck operators is high school diploma, with 47% of truck operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 16%.
- High School Diploma, 47%
- Associate, 17%
- Bachelor's, 16%
- Diploma, 12%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Truck operators by degree level
| Truck operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 47% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Bachelor's | 16% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Truck operator jobs you might like
Truck operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, truck operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $40,268 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, truck operators earn a median annual income of $39,972 compared to $39,737 for truck operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $37,409 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $39,737 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,972 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,268 |
Truck operator employment statistics
Most truck operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where truck operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where truck operators work.
Truck operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 16% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 31% |
| > 10,000 employees | 26% |
Truck operator jobs by company type
Employees with the truck operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most truck operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Truck operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 27% |
| Private | 65% |
| Government | 6% |
Truck operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for truck operators are manufacturing, construction and transportation.
Truck operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 15% |
| Construction | 12% |
| Fortune 500 | 11% |
| Transportation | 10% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Energy | 8% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Government | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Media | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Utilities | 3% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Truck operator turnover and employment statistics
Truck operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for truck operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Truck operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Truck operator 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 operator tenure
The average truck operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,825 truck operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Truck operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 31% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Truck operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of truck operators 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 Transport Operator | 1.73% | 26,744 |
| Truck Operator | 3.95% | - |
| Crew Car Driver | 6.17% | 221,136 |
| Motor Bus Driver | 8.69% | 8,417 |
| Special Education Bus Driver | 8.77% | 22,974 |
Similar truck operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Transport Operator | 1.73% | 26,744 |
| Crew Car Driver | 6.17% | 221,136 |
| Motor Bus Driver | 8.69% | 8,417 |
| Special Education Bus Driver | 8.77% | 22,974 |
Foreign languages spoken by truck operators
The most common foreign language among truck operators is Spanish at 60.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.4% and Carrier is the third-most popular at 7.4%.
- Spanish, 60.3%
- French, 7.4%
- Carrier, 7.4%
- Dutch, 2.9%
- German, 2.9%
- Other, 19.1%
Truck operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.3% |
| French | 7.4% |
| Carrier | 7.4% |
| Dutch | 2.9% |
| German | 2.9% |
| Other | 19.1% |
