Vehicle operator demographics and statistics in the US
Vehicle operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates vehicle operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our vehicle 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 vehicle operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 45,833 vehicle operators currently employed in the United States.
- 16.9% of all vehicle operators are women, while 83.1% are men.
- The average vehicle operator age is 54 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of vehicle operators is White (60.7%), followed by Black or African American (15.3%), Hispanic or Latino (13.8%) and Asian (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 90% of what men earned.
- 2% of all vehicle operators are LGBT.
- Vehicle operators are 58% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Vehicle operator demographics by:
Vehicle operator gender statistics
16.9% of vehicle operators are women and 83.1% of vehicle operators are men.
- Male, 83.1%
- Female, 16.9%
Vehicle operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 83.1% |
| Female | 16.9% |
Vehicle operator gender pay gap
Women earn 90¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$54,054
Female income
$48,630
Vehicle operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in vehicle operator positions over time. Currently, 16.9% of vehicle operators are female.
Vehicle operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 92.48% | 7.52% |
| 2011 | 94.91% | 5.09% |
| 2012 | 92.28% | 7.72% |
| 2013 | 90.28% | 9.72% |
| 2014 | 91.57% | 8.43% |
| 2015 | 93.59% | 6.41% |
| 2016 | 93.46% | 6.54% |
| 2017 | 92.49% | 7.51% |
| 2018 | 86.01% | 13.99% |
| 2019 | 86.04% | 13.96% |
| 2020 | 85.99% | 14.01% |
| 2021 | 83.07% | 16.93% |
Vehicle operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared vehicle 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% |
| Vehicle Operator | 83% | 17% |
| 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%
Vehicle operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among vehicle operators is White, which makes up 60.7% of all vehicle operators. Comparatively, 15.3% of vehicle operators are Black or African American and 13.8% of vehicle operators are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 60.7%
- Black or African American, 15.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.8%
- Asian, 4.8%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
Vehicle operator race
| Vehicle operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.7% |
| Black or African American | 15.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.8% |
| Asian | 4.8% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.5% |
Vehicle operator race and ethnicity over time
See how vehicle operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Vehicle operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.49% | 10.47% | 1.73% | 11.76% |
| 2011 | 76.79% | 10.99% | 1.79% | 8.97% |
| 2012 | 75.23% | 10.04% | 2.54% | 10.04% |
| 2013 | 70.70% | 13.65% | 2.59% | 10.10% |
| 2014 | 73.78% | 13.11% | 1.59% | 9.80% |
| 2015 | 72.80% | 11.93% | 1.37% | 11.55% |
| 2016 | 71.56% | 13.37% | 2.36% | 10.22% |
| 2017 | 73.22% | 12.81% | 2.91% | 8.59% |
| 2018 | 65.09% | 14.92% | 3.01% | 13.97% |
| 2019 | 63.71% | 16.22% | 3.35% | 13.20% |
| 2020 | 64.00% | 14.09% | 5.20% | 11.75% |
| 2021 | 60.70% | 15.25% | 4.81% | 13.82% |
Vehicle operator wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino vehicle operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american vehicle operators have the lowest average salary at $51,883.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $53,670 |
| White | $53,312 |
| Black or African American | $51,883 |
| Asian | $53,819 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $57,761 |
Average vehicle operator age
See how the average age of vehicle operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Vehicle operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 62 | 57 |
| Black or African American | 53.5 | 57 |
| Asian | 54.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 51 | 48 |
Vehicle operator age breakdown
The average age of vehicle operators is 40+ years years old, representing 81% of the vehicle operator population.
Vehicle operator age breakdown
| Vehicle Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 81% |
| 30-40 years | 13% |
| 20-30 years | 7% |
Vehicle operator educational attainment
The most common degree for vehicle operators is high school diploma, with 33% of vehicle operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 28% and bachelor's degree degree at 27%.
- High School Diploma, 33%
- Bachelor's, 28%
- Associate, 27%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Vehicle operators by degree level
| Vehicle operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 33% |
| Bachelor's | 28% |
| Associate | 27% |
| Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Vehicle operator jobs you might like
Vehicle operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, vehicle operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $57,005 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, vehicle operators earn a median annual income of $52,847 compared to $52,065 for vehicle operators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $52,847 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $52,065 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,005 |
Vehicle operator employment statistics
Most vehicle operators work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where vehicle operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where vehicle operators work.
Vehicle operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 20% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 28% |
| > 10,000 employees | 26% |
Vehicle operator jobs by company type
Employees with the vehicle operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most vehicle operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Vehicle operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 7% |
| Public | 21% |
| Private | 58% |
| Government | 14% |
Vehicle operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for vehicle operators are transportation, government and professional.
Vehicle operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 20% |
| Government | 12% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Technology | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Education | 6% |
| Automotive | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
Vehicle operator turnover and employment statistics
Vehicle operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for vehicle operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Vehicle operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Vehicle operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.81% |
| 2011 | 9.39% |
| 2012 | 6.27% |
| 2013 | 6.46% |
| 2014 | 4.27% |
| 2015 | 6.02% |
| 2016 | 3.78% |
| 2017 | 4.98% |
| 2018 | 4.46% |
| 2019 | 3.38% |
| 2020 | 7.68% |
| 2021 | 8.68% |
Average vehicle operator tenure
The average vehicle operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,833 vehicle operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Vehicle operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 14% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 24% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Vehicle operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of vehicle 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | - |
| Food Service Driver | 3.95% | 236,463 |
| Shuttle Driver | 6.17% | 416,879 |
| Transit Operator | 8.69% | 30,489 |
| Bus Aide | 8.77% | 47,159 |
Similar vehicle operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Driver | 3.95% | 236,463 |
| Shuttle Driver | 6.17% | 416,879 |
| Transit Operator | 8.69% | 30,489 |
| Bus Aide | 8.77% | 47,159 |
Foreign languages spoken by vehicle operators
The most common foreign language among vehicle operators is Spanish at 45.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Russian at 9.8% and French is the third-most popular at 8.2%.
- Spanish, 45.9%
- Russian, 9.8%
- French, 8.2%
- Carrier, 4.9%
- Japanese, 3.3%
- Other, 27.9%
Vehicle operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 45.9% |
| Russian | 9.8% |
| French | 8.2% |
| Carrier | 4.9% |
| Japanese | 3.3% |
| Other | 27.9% |
