Driver Salary in the United States

How much does a Driver make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Driver in the United States is $40,971 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Driver's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,926
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,704 to $45,135
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,819
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View as table View as graph 25% $36,704 10% $32,819 90% $48,926 75% $45,135 $40,971 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Driver Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $45,135 $3,761 $868 $22
Average $40,971 $3,414 $788 $20
25th Percentile $36,704 $3,059 $706 $18
Check out Driver Job Openings in the United States
Driver

Consolidated Electrical Distributors - Columbus, OH

Driver

Green Investment Partners - Columbus, OH

Driver- Regional

National Retail Systems - Columbus, OH

Driver - Columbus

Enterprise - Columbus, OH

Search More Driver Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Driver Salaries

A Driver's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Driver Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Driver's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $39,236
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,561
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,015
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $40,787
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,012
Levels Salary
Entry Level Driver$39,236
Intermediate Level Driver$39,561
Senior Level Driver$40,015
Specialist Level Driver$40,787
Expert Level Driver$42,012
$39,236 0 yr
$39,561 < 2 yrs
$40,015 2-4 yrs
$40,787 5-8 yrs
$42,012 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Drivers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $51,676
  • San Francisco: $51,111
  • Oakland: $50,033

What Skills Can Increase a Driver's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 23.47% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Retail Industry (Mentioned in 3.16% Job Postings): The retail industry consists of all companies that sell goods and services to consumers. There are many different retail sales and store types worldwide, including grocery, convenience, discounts, independents, department stores, DIY, electrical and speciality.
  • Wholesale (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Buying and selling products in large quantities at a lower price to increase profitability through a high sales volume.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 23.47%
Retail Industry 3.16%
Wholesale 1.96%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Driver's salary.
  • Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Service Delivery: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Work Ethic: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Organizing
$46,707
14%
Service Delivery
$44,248
8%
Work Ethic
$43,839
7%
Container
$43,429
6%
Technical Skills
$43,429
6%
Cash Management
$43,019
5%
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Driver Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Driver roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Driver positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Driver as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Driver

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$47,116$23.015%
MFG Durable$45,887$22.012%
Construction$45,068$22.010%
Aerospace & Defense$44,658$21.09%
Internet$44,248$21.08%

How Education impacts a Driver's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Drivers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Driver with a No Diploma is between $36,215 and $38,777).

Driver Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Driver
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.6%
High School 71.4%
Associates 11.0%
Bachelors 9.9%
Masters 1.1%
Doctorate 1.1%
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Driver Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Driver's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Driver

Salaries for a Driver can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $48,032 in 2023 to around $46,441 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Driver salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Driver Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$48,032
2024
$46,947
2025
$46,441
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $48,032
2024 $46,947
2025 $46,441
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Driver

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Driver

Here are companies hiring for Driver and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Driver Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Driver job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • White Cap

    Columbus, OH

    White Cap | Columbus, OH

    White Cap - - Responsibilities: Coordinates and delivers products to customer jobsites. May unload shipments using a forklift. Follows DOT regulations and ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Core &amp; Main

    Columbus, OH

    Core &amp; Main | Columbus, OH

    Job Opportunity At Core & Main. Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure with local service, nationwide. As a speci... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Enterprise Holdings

    Columbus, OH

    Enterprise Holdings | Columbus, OH

    Driver Position. The Enterprise brand of Enterprise Mobility has an exciting opportunity for a Driver. The Driver delivers vehicles and in some instances, ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • National Retail Systems

    Columbus, OH

    National Retail Systems | Columbus, OH

    Job Posting. Company Overview: NRS is a leading provider of transportation & supply chain solutions. As a family-owned and operated company, NRS has delive... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Goodwill Columbus

    Columbus, OH

    Goodwill Columbus | Columbus, OH

    JOB DESCRIPTIONJob Title Driver, Adult Day Services/Work and Community ServicesDepartment Day ServicesReports To Area Manager/ManagerPositions Supervised N... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Batteries Plus Bulbs

    Columbus, OH

    Batteries Plus Bulbs | Columbus, OH

    5010 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43214, USA #161 - High Street, OH - 5010 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43214, USA Hourly Full Time Full-benefits pac... more

    4 Days Ago

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FAQ about Driver

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Driver?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Driver roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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