How much does a vehicle driver make?
Answer: A typical vehicle driver in the United States makes $37,180 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 47,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Vehicle driver pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $26,540 | $37,180 | $66,500 | about 47,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $69,870 | about 980 |
| New Jersey | $50,680 | about 2,000 |
| California | $45,050 | about 4,000 |
| Illinois | $44,810 | about 840 |
| Montana | $41,860 | about 670 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, a CDL, and skill with a special machine can affect a vehicle driver's pay. Pay also varies by employer and location; night, weekend, or overtime work may bring extra pay.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a vehicle driver do?
All motor vehicle operators not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
This broad U.S. job group can include a street-sweeper driver: they inspect the vehicle, follow a route, sweep streets, then dump debris and clean the machine. Others may deliver by motorcycle or drive an ice resurfacer.
How to get this job
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED, get a driver's license, and apply for an operator job; some employers want experience. Train on the assigned vehicle, and get a CDL and pass its tests if that vehicle requires one.
Did you know?
Some U.S. vehicle drivers in this job work on ice, not roads: resurfacer operators shave the rink, collect ice shavings, and spread fresh ice-making water.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Earn more in the same field
Transportation and Material Moving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- live.laborstats.alaska.gov/soc-codes?field_soc_broad_major_group_target_id=359
- www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license
- www.tpcg.org/jobs/2690
- zamboni.com/about/how-it-works/
- personnel.lacity.org/jobs/openings/index.cfm?job_id=9701
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY