Driver/Sales Workers Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of driver/sales workers to grow 7.9% from 2025 to 2035 (about 35,200 more jobs), with about 45,500 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $38,770 a year ranks 742nd of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +7.9%
- Openings a year
- 45,500
- Median pay
- $38,770
- Pay rank
- 742nd of 825
Is employment of driver/sales workers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of driver/sales workers to rise 7.9% (about 35,200 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the +4.3% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 50 transportation and material moving occupations with a projection. That change ranks 98th of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 442,900 |
| Employment, 2035 | 478,100 |
| Projected change | +7.9% |
| Openings a year | 45,500 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 442,900 jobs here differ from the 409,180 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 45,500 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 89th most of 830 occupations. About 92% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 3,520 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for driver/sales workers rank?
The median of $38,770 a year ranks 742nd of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent.
- Typical on-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Truck Drivers | +6.3% | 107,200 | $44,860 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | +8.9% | 430,700 | $37,330 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | +3.8% | 214,500 | $58,640 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | +1.8% | 340,500 | $40,240 |
| Parking Attendants | +2.0% | 16,400 | $35,150 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | -7.6% | 61,300 | $45,260 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | -10.4% | 4,800 | $41,380 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | +3.0% | 46,100 | $41,300 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.