How much does a taxi driver make?
The median taxi driver in the United States earns $36,220 per year, about $17.42 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all taxi drivers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 53-3054.
Taxi driver salary range
Pay for taxi drivers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,280 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $61,920. The average (mean) wage of $39,310 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,280 | $13.12 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $31,320 | $15.06 | |
| Median (50th) | $36,220 | $17.42 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $40,630 | $19.53 | |
| 90th percentile | $61,920 | $29.77 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for taxi drivers (SOC 53-3054), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Taxi driver salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Taxi drivers earn the most in Nevada at $49,090 a year, and the least in Kansas at $24,860. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $49,090 | 3,600 |
| New York | $40,630 | 1,950 |
| California | $38,500 | N/A |
| Minnesota | $36,860 | 140 |
| Missouri | $36,650 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $36,460 | 30 |
| Oregon | $35,740 | 240 |
| Texas | $35,610 | 150 |
| Maryland | $34,930 | N/A |
| North Carolina | $34,790 | 170 |
| Maine | $33,720 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $33,480 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $33,400 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $31,950 | 300 |
| Arizona | $31,340 | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,950 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $29,810 | N/A |
| Illinois | $29,120 | 170 |
| Idaho | $28,520 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $28,510 | 80 |
| Virginia | $28,400 | 370 |
| South Dakota | $27,400 | 40 |
| Utah | $27,370 | 60 |
| Florida | $27,360 | 940 |
| Wisconsin | $25,420 | 860 |
| Kansas | $24,860 | 70 |
State median wages for taxi drivers (SOC 53-3054), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for taxi drivers
The BLS projects employment of taxi drivers to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 204,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 227,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 20,400 openings a year for taxi drivers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a taxi driver
The typical entry-level education for taxi drivers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a taxi driver earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Nevada, $49,090) and the lowest (Kansas, $24,860) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 17,510 people work as taxi drivers in the United States. At $36,220 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Taxi driver salary FAQ
How much does a taxi driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a taxi driver is $17.42. The middle half of taxi drivers earn between $15.06 and $19.53 per hour.
What is the highest taxi driver salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of taxi drivers earn more than $61,920 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a taxi driver make a year?
The median annual salary for a taxi driver is $36,220. The average (mean) wage of $39,310 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a taxi driver a well paid job?
At $36,220 a year, a taxi driver earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 17,510 people work as taxi drivers in the United States.
Which state pays taxi drivers the most?
Nevada has the highest median salary for taxi drivers at $49,090 a year. New York ($40,630) and California ($38,500) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a taxi driver a good career?
Employment of taxi drivers is projected to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 20,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a taxi driver?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for taxi drivers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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