Taxi drivers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| Mean (average) | $49,930 | $24.01 |
| 90th percentile | $75,800 | $36.44 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Taxi drivers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 25 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $36,120 | $34,580 | $54,960 | 950 | 1.11 |
| California | $39,260 | $39,050 | $39,260 | 3,880 | 0.81 |
| Colorado | $43,490 | $36,980 | $69,030 | 60 | 0.08 |
| Florida | $28,060 | $28,020 | $36,190 | 860 | 0.33 |
| Georgia | $33,430 | $29,360 | $48,690 | 120 | 0.09 |
| Illinois | $36,770 | $31,200 | $44,390 | 190 | 0.12 |
| Kansas | $26,970 | $20,640 | $41,600 | 60 | 0.15 |
| Kentucky | $33,850 | $28,290 | $44,960 | 150 | 0.28 |
| Maine | $36,960 | $34,380 | $47,570 | 50 | 0.28 |
| Maryland | $36,900 | $32,820 | $64,790 | 50 | 0.07 |
| Massachusetts | $35,270 | $32,830 | $37,440 | ||
| Michigan | $36,670 | $31,660 | $42,650 | 90 | 0.07 |
| Minnesota | $35,710 | $30,250 | $39,430 | 150 | 0.2 |
| Missouri | $37,560 | $28,600 | $38,020 | 200 | 0.26 |
| Nevada | $44,800 | $33,710 | $76,610 | 2,980 | 7.26 |
| New Hampshire | $41,510 | $27,650 | $41,600 | 80 | 0.42 |
| New York | $41,570 | $35,470 | $42,100 | ||
| North Carolina | $36,950 | $31,410 | $43,390 | 120 | 0.09 |
| Oregon | $37,120 | $30,790 | $53,920 | 240 | 0.47 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,480 | $26,470 | $45,750 | 210 | 0.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,620 | $21,840 | $41,600 | 50 | 0.21 |
| Texas | $48,740 | $33,300 | $60,470 | 460 | 0.12 |
| Utah | $36,390 | $24,600 | $41,250 | 110 | 0.23 |
| Virginia | $28,490 | $26,270 | $60,070 | 190 | 0.18 |
| Wisconsin | $27,820 | $23,600 | $36,210 | 880 | 1.13 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for taxi drivers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 20,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 86.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for taxi drivers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Actsoft Comet Tracker
- Digital Dispatch
- Easy Dispatch
- EventHelix WebTaxi
- GPC Autocab
- Mobile Knowledge Cabmate
- PC Dispatch
- Penchant Software dispatchOffice
- Piccolo Software PiccoloTaxi
- TSS Wireless Fleet Management Suite
- TranWare Enterprise Suite
Common job titles: Cab Driver, Taxi Cab Driver, Taxi Driver.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do taxi drivers make?
The national median annual wage for taxi drivers was $42,100 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,650 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $75,800. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do taxi drivers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is taxi drivers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of taxi drivers to change +11.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 20,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay taxi drivers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Texas ($48,740), Nevada ($44,800), Colorado ($43,490). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.