53 Series · SOC 53-3054

Taxi Drivers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$42,100
Median / year
$75,800
Top 10% earn
+11.1%
Growth '23–'33
41,050
US workers

Taxi Drivers earn a median of $42,100 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $42,100, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,650 (10th percentile) to $75,800 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 41,050 US workers. Texas pays the most ($48,740), since pay varies by state and metro area.

53 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Taxi Drivers earn a median of $42,100, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 15% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #36 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 11.1% by 2033.

$42,100
Median annual wage
Top 85%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#36 of 50
in Transportation and Material Moving
2.2×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Texas at $48,740. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Taxi Drivers (SOC 53-3054) pays a national median of $42,100 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,650 at the 10th percentile to $75,800 at the 90th, with a mean of $49,930 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 41,050 Americans work in this occupation across 25 reporting states and 15 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +11.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 22,600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 18 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Texas pays the highest state median at $48,740, which is +16% above the national figure. The top metro is Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $44,800 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 41,050 jobs Median $42,100/yr

Median Salary

$42,100

per year

Median Hourly

$20.24/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$49,930

average

Employment

41,050

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Taxi Drivers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$42,100 Bottom 15% higher than 15% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Taxi Drivers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Taxi Drivers sits on the faster-growing side at +11.1% growth and $42,100 median pay.

Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Taxi Drivers sits on the faster-growing side at +11.1% growth and $42,100 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000 -20%-10%0%10%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Taxi Drivers sits on the faster-growing side at +11.1% growth and $42,100 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+11.1%

Much faster than average

Annual Openings

22,600

per year (projected)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
B

Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

18/100K

Injury Rate

3/100

Danger Index

21/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Taxi Drivers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Collect fares or vouchers from passengers, and make change or issue receipts as necessary.
  • ▸ Communicate with dispatchers by radio, telephone, or computer to exchange information and receive requests for passenger service.
  • ▸ Complete accident reports when necessary.
  • ▸ Determine fares based on trip distances and times, using taximeters and fee schedules, and announce fares to passengers.
  • ▸ Drive taxicabs or privately owned vehicles to transport passengers.
  • ▸ Follow relevant safety regulations and state laws governing vehicle operation, and ensure that passengers follow safety regulations.
  • ▸ Notify dispatchers or company mechanics of vehicle problems.
  • ▸ Perform minor vehicle repairs, such as cleaning spark plugs, or take vehicles to mechanics for servicing.
  • ▸ Perform routine vehicle maintenance, such as regulating tire pressure and adding gasoline, oil, and water.
  • ▸ Pick up passengers at prearranged locations, at taxi stands, or by cruising streets in high-traffic areas.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$34,650$37,790$42,100$60,960$75,800
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$16.66$18.17$20.24$29.31$36.44
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$34,650

25th Percentile

$37,790

Median

$42,100

75th Percentile

$60,960

90th Percentile

$75,800

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Texas $48,740 2. Nevada $44,800 3. Colorado $43,490 4. New York $41,570 5. New Hampshire $41,510

Lowest Paying States

21. Kansas $26,970 22. Wisconsin $27,820 23. Florida $28,060 24. Virginia $28,490 25. Puerto Rico $31,620
View all 25 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Texas $48,740 +16% above national
2 Nevada $44,800 +6% above national
3 Colorado $43,490 +3% above national
4 New York $41,570 1% below national
5 New Hampshire $41,510 1% below national
6 California $39,260 7% below national
7 Missouri $37,560 11% below national
8 Oregon $37,120 12% below national
9 Maine $36,960 12% below national
10 North Carolina $36,950 12% below national
11 Maryland $36,900 12% below national
12 Illinois $36,770 13% below national
13 Michigan $36,670 13% below national
14 Utah $36,390 14% below national
15 Arizona $36,120 14% below national
16 Minnesota $35,710 15% below national
17 Pennsylvania $35,480 16% below national
18 Massachusetts $35,270 16% below national
19 Kentucky $33,850 20% below national
20 Georgia $33,430 21% below national
21 Puerto Rico $31,620 25% below national
22 Virginia $28,490 32% below national
23 Florida $28,060 33% below national
24 Wisconsin $27,820 34% below national
25 Kansas $26,970 36% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $44,800 2. Kansas City, MO-KS $38,020 3. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $37,420 4. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $36,770 5. East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $35,670

Lowest Paying Metros

11. South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $23,840 12. Eau Claire, WI $26,300 13. Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $27,720 14. La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $27,920 15. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $28,530
View all 15 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $44,800 +6% above national
2 Kansas City, MO-KS $38,020 10% below national
3 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $37,420 11% below national
4 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $36,770 13% below national
5 East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $35,670 15% below national
6 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $35,600 15% below national
7 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $35,290 16% below national
8 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $35,000 17% below national
9 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $34,870 17% below national
10 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $31,980 24% below national
11 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $28,530 32% below national
12 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $27,920 34% below national
13 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $27,720 34% below national
14 Eau Claire, WI $26,300 38% below national
15 South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $23,840 43% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.

Air Traffic Controllers

SOC 53-2021

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

SOC 53-1041

Aircraft Service Attendants

SOC 53-6032

Airfield Operations Specialists

SOC 53-2022

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

SOC 53-2011
Compare Taxi Drivers side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Taxi Drivers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Taxi Drivers is $42,100 ($20.24/hour). The salary range spans from $34,650 at the 10th percentile to $75,800 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Taxi Drivers the most? ▼
Texas pays the highest median salary for Taxi Drivers at $48,740/year, which is +16% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Taxi Drivers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Taxi Drivers is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Taxi Drivers? ▼
Taxi Drivers has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 18 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3 per 100 workers.
Is Taxi Drivers a good career? ▼
Employment for Taxi Drivers is projected to grow 11.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 22,600 openings are projected each year.
How does Taxi Drivers pay vary by state? ▼
Taxi Drivers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Texas at $48,740/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $31,620/year. BLS data covers 25 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Taxi Drivers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Taxi Drivers is Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $44,800/year. BLS reports wage data for 15 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Taxi Drivers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $60,960/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Texas leads at $48,740/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.