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Taxi drivers: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$42,100median pay per year, or $20.24 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,650lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,79025th percentile
  3. $42,100median
  4. $60,96075th percentile
  5. $75,800top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Taxi drivers on wage and salary earned a median of $42,100 a year in May 2025[1]. Most taxi drivers are self-employed and are not counted in that figure[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+11.5%[6]
Openings per year
20,400[7]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[8]

How much do taxi drivers make?

The median wage was $42,100 a year, or $20.24 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $49,930 a year, or $24.01 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5], so the taxi driver median is lower.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,650, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $75,800[4]. The 25th percentile was $37,790 and the 75th was $60,960[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $16.66 and the 90th was $36.44[10]. BLS publishes percentile boundaries and not a starting salary[11].

This data has a big limit. It covers only wage and salary workers, about 41,050 of them in May 2025[12][2]. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or benefit costs[2]. In BLS projections, 86.5% of taxi drivers were self-employed in 2025[3]. So these wages describe a minority of people who drive taxis.

Pay by state and city

Texas had the highest published state median at $48,740, followed by Nevada at $44,800 and Colorado at $43,490[13]. Kansas had the lowest at $26,970[13].

California had the most jobs at 3,880, then Nevada at 2,980 and Arizona at 950[14]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV had the highest median at $44,800, followed by Kansas City, MO-KS at $38,020[15]. Las Vegas also had the most jobs of any metro area at 2,960[16].

Show median pay in 24 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Texas[13]$48,740460
Nevada$44,8002,980
Colorado$43,49060
New York$41,570n/a
New Hampshire$41,51080
California$39,2603,880
Missouri$37,560200
Oregon$37,120240
Maine$36,96050
North Carolina$36,950120
Maryland$36,90050
Illinois$36,770190
Michigan$36,67090
Utah$36,390110
Arizona$36,120950
Minnesota$35,710150
Pennsylvania$35,480210
Massachusetts$35,270n/a
Kentucky$33,850150
Georgia$33,430120
Virginia$28,490190
Florida$28,060860
Wisconsin$27,820880
Kansas$26,97060

How to become a taxi driver

The training details here come from an OOH profile that covers a wider group, taxi drivers, shuttle drivers and chauffeurs[17]. BLS lists no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, with no related work experience[8].

Companies that hire employees may prefer a high school diploma, but self-employed drivers do not need formal credentials[21]. Rules for ride-hailing drivers vary by state and city[22].

Useful traits include customer service, dependability, hand-eye coordination and patience[23][24][25][26].

What taxi drivers do

Taxi drivers carry passengers on an unplanned basis and charge a fare, usually based on a meter[27]. Typical tasks, based on O*NET, include:

Where they work

Self-employed workers were the largest employer group in the wider profile, at 86%[29]. Many drivers work with little or no supervision[30]. Some taxi drivers own the cab and others lease it from a dispatch company. Either way, they may pay a dispatch company a fee for passenger referrals, and they usually pay for fuel and maintenance[31].

In the wider profile, hours vary, and some drivers work part time. Evening and weekend work is common[32]. Schedules for taxi and ride-hailing drivers are often flexible[33]. Heavy traffic and bad weather can be stressful, and most injuries come from traffic accidents[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 204,200 jobs to 227,700, a gain of 23,500[6]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[35]. These counts include self-employed workers and are far larger than the wage-and-salary count of 41,050[12][6].

About 20,400 openings a year are projected[7]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year 4.1% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with very low entry barriers, no formal education and short training[8]. Wage-and-salary pay is below the all-occupations median[1][5], and the data does not show what self-employed drivers earn[2][3]. Drivers usually cover fuel and maintenance[31]. Projected growth is faster than average[6][35]. The flexible schedule and independence may suit people who like working alone[30][33].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a taxi driver make an hour?
The median was $20.24 an hour for wage and salary taxi drivers in May 2025[1]. The average was $24.01[9].
What do you need to be a taxi driver?
BLS lists no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training[8]. A driver's license is required, and a taxi or limousine license may be needed[18][19].
How long is taxi driver training?
In the wider profile, training usually takes from 1 day to 2 weeks[20].
Are taxi drivers in demand?
BLS projects 11.5% growth from 2025 to 2035 against 3.5% for all occupations[6][35].
Which state pays taxi drivers the most?
Texas had the highest published median at $48,740, then Nevada at $44,800[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Taxi Drivers in the US was $42,100 per year and $20.24 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: 86.5% of Taxi Drivers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Taxi Drivers: 10th percentile $34,650, 25th percentile $37,790, 75th percentile $60,960, 90th percentile $75,800. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Taxi Drivers is projected to grow 11.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 204,200 to 227,700 jobs (a change of +23,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 20,400 openings for Taxi Drivers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Taxi Drivers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Taxi Drivers was $49,930 per year and $24.01 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Taxi Drivers: 10th percentile $16.66, 25th percentile $18.17, 75th percentile $29.31, 90th percentile $36.44. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 41,050 people were employed as Taxi Drivers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Taxi Drivers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Taxi Drivers jobs: California 3,880; Nevada 2,980; Arizona 950; Wisconsin 880; Florida 860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Taxi Drivers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $44,800; Kansas City, MO-KS $38,020; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $37,420; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $36,770; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $35,290; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $35,000; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $28,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Taxi Drivers jobs: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 2,960 (median $44,800); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 230 (median $35,290); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 150 (median $36,770); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 150 (median $37,420); Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI 140 (median $28,530); Kansas City, MO-KS 130 (median $38,020). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Taxi Drivers, Shuttle Drivers, and Chauffeurs" covers Taxi Drivers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Taxi Drivers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Taxi Drivers. O*NET OnLine
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of taxi drivers, shuttle drivers, and chauffeurs in 2025: Self-employed workers 86%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Taxi Drivers: 4.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.