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Pick up Driver Salary in the United States

How much does a Pick up Driver make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pick up Driver in the United States is $42,519 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $50,776
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,092 to $46,841
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,061
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Pick up Driver Salaries

A Pick up 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 Pick up Driver Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pick up 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): $40,719
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,056
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,528
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,329
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,600
Levels Salary
Entry Level Pick up Driver$40,719
Intermediate Level Pick up Driver$41,056
Senior Level Pick up Driver$41,528
Specialist Level Pick up Driver$42,329
Expert Level Pick up Driver$43,600
View as Graph

How Do Pick up Driver Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pick up Drivers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $47,077.
  • California: $46,899.
  • Massachusetts: $46,274.

Top Paying Cities for Pick up 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: $53,629
  • San Francisco: $53,042
  • Oakland: $51,924

What Skills Can Increase a Pick up 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 23.47%
Retail Industry 3.16%
Wholesale 1.96%
See More Skills

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 Pick up 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 $48,472
14%
Service Delivery $45,921
8%
Work Ethic $45,496
7%
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Pick up Driver Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pick up 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, Pick up Driver positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pick up Driver as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pick up Driver

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$48,897$24.015%
MFG Durable$47,622$23.012%
Construction$46,771$22.010%
Aerospace & Defense$46,346$22.09%
Internet$45,921$22.08%

How Education impacts a Pick up Driver's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pick up 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 Pick up Driver with a No Diploma is between $36,215 and $38,777).

Pick up Driver Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pick up 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%
View as Graph

Pick up Driver Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pick up 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 September 01, 2026
$38,092
Average $42,519/year
$46,841
$3,174
Average $3,543/month
$3,903
$733
Average $818/week
$901
$18
Average $20/hour
$23
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $46,841 $3,903 $901 $23
Average $42,519 $3,543 $818 $20
25th Percentile $38,092 $3,174 $733 $18

Most common benefits for Pick up Driver

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Pick up Driver

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

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FAQ about Pick up Driver

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Pick up Driver?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Pick up 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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