Driver/Sales Workers
Driver/Sales Workers (SOC 53-3031) earn a median $38,770 a year ($18.64 an hour) in the United States, with 409,180 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What driver/sales workers do
Driver/sales workers combine driving a delivery route with selling or handing over goods to customers. Examples include route drivers who deliver food products, drivers who pick up and deliver commercial laundry, and restaurant take-out couriers who carry food to customers. They load or check their truck, drive an established route or territory, and make stops where they unload product, take orders, collect money, make change, and record the sale or delivery on a daily sheet. Because they see the same customers repeatedly, they tell them about new products and price changes and handle complaints. Some also clean and maintain the truck and any food-dispensing equipment on board. The selling is what separates this code from light truck drivers, who deliver without the selling role, and from servicers of vending machines, who are classed with repair workers. Alternate titles such as bread distributor, bakery deliverer, and city route driver show how much of this work is route-based.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Automotive Parts Delivery Driver (Auto Parts Delivery Driver), Bakery Deliverer, Bobtailer, Bread Distributor, Bread Jockey.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.86 | $14.52 | $18.64 | $23.56 | $28.84 | $19.58 | 409,180 |
| Annual | $22,590 | $30,200 | $38,770 | $49,000 | $59,980 | $40,730 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where driver/sales workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $17.21 | $20.67 | $23.28 | $26.00 | $29.69 | $23.14 | 1,270 | 3.89 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $35,800 | $42,990 | $48,420 | $54,080 | $61,760 | $48,120 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $10.90 | $13.66 | $22.65 | $28.37 | $31.13 | $21.76 | 4,400 | 2.82 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $22,670 | $28,420 | $47,120 | $59,010 | $64,760 | $45,260 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $16.29 | $18.00 | $22.53 | $28.44 | $32.28 | $23.21 | 3,830 | 1.05 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $33,890 | $37,430 | $46,870 | $59,160 | $67,140 | $48,280 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $15.91 | $19.04 | $22.26 | $27.37 | $31.64 | $23.18 | 510 | 1.68 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $33,090 | $39,610 | $46,300 | $56,920 | $65,800 | $48,210 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.50 | $18.36 | $21.92 | $25.98 | $30.42 | $23.18 | 34,480 | 1.89 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $38,180 | $45,600 | $54,040 | $63,280 | $48,220 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $8.79 | $11.06 | $17.24 | $23.33 | $28.85 | $18.18 | 40,950 | 2.91 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $18,290 | $23,000 | $35,850 | $48,520 | $60,020 | $37,820 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.50 | $18.36 | $21.92 | $25.98 | $30.42 | $23.18 | 34,480 | 1.89 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $38,180 | $45,600 | $54,040 | $63,280 | $48,220 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.00 | $13.03 | $17.43 | $22.51 | $27.44 | $18.67 | 24,380 | 2.46 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $27,040 | $27,100 | $36,260 | $46,830 | $57,080 | $38,840 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $10.81 | $11.97 | $17.17 | $22.76 | $28.54 | $18.22 | 20,430 | 3.68 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $22,490 | $24,900 | $35,720 | $47,340 | $59,370 | $37,890 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $11.73 | $15.00 | $19.25 | $24.09 | $28.86 | $20.12 | 19,150 | 3.92 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $24,400 | $31,210 | $40,040 | $50,110 | $60,020 | $41,860 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dubuque, IA | Hourly | $11.31 | $16.80 | $25.92 | $26.78 | $30.79 | $22.65 | 200 | 3.35 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $23,510 | $34,940 | $53,910 | $55,710 | $64,040 | $47,110 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $20.14 | $21.97 | $24.64 | $29.92 | $36.13 | $26.69 | 1,360 | 1.20 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $41,890 | $45,690 | $51,260 | $62,220 | $75,150 | $55,520 | ||||
| Merced, CA | Hourly | $18.11 | $20.05 | $23.70 | $27.87 | $31.16 | $24.21 | 330 | 4.19 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $37,680 | $41,690 | $49,290 | $57,970 | $64,810 | $50,370 | ||||
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Hourly | $16.16 | $20.37 | $23.63 | $29.99 | $33.82 | $24.55 | 230 | 1.90 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $33,620 | $42,360 | $49,150 | $62,380 | $70,340 | $51,060 | ||||
| Yuba City, CA | Hourly | $18.18 | $18.66 | $23.61 | $29.01 | $31.85 | $24.20 | 110 | 2.13 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $37,810 | $38,820 | $49,110 | $60,330 | $66,240 | $50,330 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.04 | $17.24 | $21.50 | $26.88 | $30.07 | $22.56 | 19,040 | 2.01 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $33,350 | $35,860 | $44,720 | $55,910 | $62,540 | $46,920 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $14.17 | $15.28 | $19.75 | $24.17 | $29.11 | $20.65 | 12,020 | 4.16 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $29,480 | $31,770 | $41,080 | $50,270 | $60,550 | $42,960 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.50 | $17.50 | $21.74 | $24.47 | $29.38 | $22.64 | 11,130 | 1.78 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $36,400 | $45,220 | $50,890 | $61,110 | $47,100 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.00 | $19.46 | $24.09 | $33.48 | $21.46 | 10,190 | 2.26 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,200 | $40,490 | $50,110 | $69,640 | $44,630 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $9.15 | $13.12 | $21.36 | $27.37 | $31.04 | $20.95 | 9,970 | 2.46 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $19,030 | $27,280 | $44,440 | $56,930 | $64,560 | $43,570 | ||||
Top industries employing driver/sales workers
Restaurants and Other Eating Places employ 41.4% of driver/sales workers nationally (169,260 jobs) at a median $30,470 a year ($14.65 an hour), followed by Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) (20.1%) and Drycleaning and Laundry Services (5.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places NAICS 722500 | 169,260 | 41.4% | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) NAICS 4240A1 | 82,170 | 20.1% | $50,190 | $24.13 |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services NAICS 812300 | 23,050 | 5.6% | $47,520 | $22.84 |
| Truck Transportation NAICS 484000 | 9,920 | 2.4% | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) NAICS 4450A1 | 7,830 | 1.9% | $40,190 | $19.32 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (409,180). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,280 for driver/sales workers in May 2021 and $38,770 in May 2025, with employment of 477,020 and 409,180.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,280 | $14.08 | 477,020 |
| May 2022 | $32,690 | $15.72 | 489,510 |
| May 2023 | $35,420 | $17.03 | 463,120 |
| May 2024 | $37,130 | $17.85 | 417,420 |
| May 2025 | $38,770 | $18.64 | 409,180 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $23.28 | $48,420 | $35,800 | $61,760 | 1,270 | 3.89 | 1.48 |
| 2 | Iowa profile | $22.65 | $47,120 | $22,670 | $64,760 | 4,400 | 2.82 | 1.07 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $22.53 | $46,870 | $33,890 | $67,140 | 3,830 | 1.05 | 0.40 |
| 4 | Vermont profile | $22.26 | $46,300 | $33,090 | $65,800 | 510 | 1.68 | 0.64 |
| 5 | California profile | $21.92 | $45,600 | $34,320 | $63,280 | 34,480 | 1.89 | 0.72 |
| 6 | South Dakota profile | $21.66 | $45,050 | $28,960 | $64,540 | 1,050 | 2.29 | 0.87 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $21.50 | $44,720 | $32,220 | $60,360 | 9,720 | 2.27 | 0.86 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $20.88 | $43,420 | $30,800 | $57,960 | 10,790 | 3.75 | 1.43 |
| 9 | Kansas profile | $20.76 | $43,180 | $20,540 | $56,440 | 1,950 | 1.36 | 0.51 |
| 10 | New York profile | $20.54 | $42,730 | $33,210 | $62,390 | 18,990 | 1.96 | 0.74 |
| 11 | Tennessee profile | $20.30 | $42,220 | $20,800 | $51,610 | 9,620 | 2.94 | 1.12 |
| 12 | District of Columbia profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $36,400 | $57,650 | 1,020 | 1.45 | 0.55 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $19.98 | $41,570 | $34,650 | $69,580 | 5,890 | 1.66 | 0.63 |
| 14 | New Hampshire profile | $19.96 | $41,520 | $18,260 | $59,220 | 1,990 | 2.91 | 1.10 |
| 15 | Oregon profile | $19.75 | $41,080 | $30,580 | $61,530 | 5,210 | 2.65 | 1.01 |
| 16 | Missouri profile | $19.33 | $40,200 | $28,600 | $57,920 | 7,590 | 2.58 | 0.98 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $19.25 | $40,040 | $24,400 | $60,020 | 19,150 | 3.92 | 1.49 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $19.18 | $39,900 | $30,470 | $59,040 | 2,160 | 3.37 | 1.28 |
| 19 | Arkansas profile | $19.14 | $39,820 | $24,260 | $59,050 | 3,170 | 2.43 | 0.92 |
| 20 | Michigan profile | $19.04 | $39,610 | $25,960 | $58,730 | 15,490 | 3.52 | 1.34 |
| 21 | Alabama profile | $18.84 | $39,190 | $24,310 | $61,100 | 4,310 | 2.04 | 0.77 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $18.73 | $38,960 | $31,200 | $65,680 | 13,680 | 2.24 | 0.85 |
| 23 | North Dakota profile | $18.56 | $38,610 | $19,550 | $62,320 | 1,740 | 4.05 | 1.54 |
| 24 | Maryland profile | $18.51 | $38,500 | $31,770 | $58,520 | 11,940 | 4.32 | 1.64 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $18.48 | $38,440 | $30,580 | $55,420 | 10,550 | 3.26 | 1.24 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.95 | $37,330 | $18,520 | $59,590 | 15,100 | 2.49 | 0.95 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $17.88 | $37,180 | $26,470 | $58,530 | 10,780 | 2.62 | 1.00 |
| 28 | Kentucky profile | $17.80 | $37,030 | $20,800 | $58,920 | 6,140 | 3.07 | 1.17 |
| 29 | Connecticut profile | $17.66 | $36,730 | $34,010 | $60,600 | 3,730 | 2.20 | 0.84 |
| 30 | North Carolina profile | $17.57 | $36,540 | $18,260 | $60,390 | 14,530 | 2.94 | 1.12 |
| 31 | Louisiana profile | $17.45 | $36,290 | $17,770 | $55,150 | 3,200 | 1.65 | 0.63 |
| 32 | Florida profile | $17.43 | $36,260 | $27,040 | $57,080 | 24,380 | 2.46 | 0.93 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $17.43 | $36,250 | $21,360 | $59,020 | 12,040 | 3.76 | 1.43 |
| 34 | Texas profile | $17.24 | $35,850 | $18,290 | $60,020 | 40,950 | 2.91 | 1.11 |
| 35 | Idaho profile | $17.20 | $35,770 | $20,980 | $49,090 | 2,090 | 2.44 | 0.93 |
| 36 | Ohio profile | $17.17 | $35,720 | $22,490 | $59,370 | 20,430 | 3.68 | 1.40 |
| 37 | Mississippi profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $23,300 | $49,470 | 2,550 | 2.19 | 0.83 |
| 38 | Nebraska profile | $16.80 | $34,950 | $28,080 | $59,350 | 2,590 | 2.53 | 0.96 |
| 39 | Rhode Island profile | $16.46 | $34,230 | $31,200 | $65,280 | 1,260 | 2.52 | 0.96 |
| 40 | Minnesota profile | $15.86 | $32,980 | $23,850 | $63,040 | 9,750 | 3.31 | 1.26 |
| 41 | Nevada profile | $15.27 | $31,760 | $24,960 | $51,550 | 4,310 | 2.78 | 1.06 |
| 42 | Hawaii profile | $15.03 | $31,270 | $29,120 | $62,720 | 920 | 1.46 | 0.56 |
| 43 | Delaware profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $45,270 | ** | ** | ** |
| 44 | New Mexico profile | $14.31 | $29,770 | $24,960 | $57,960 | 2,970 | 3.41 | 1.30 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $14.00 | $29,120 | $17,050 | $54,330 | 5,110 | 2.99 | 1.14 |
| 46 | West Virginia profile | $13.84 | $28,790 | $18,760 | $58,410 | 2,540 | 3.62 | 1.38 |
| 47 | Montana profile | $13.26 | $27,580 | $22,060 | $58,690 | 2,100 | 4.11 | 1.56 |
| 48 | Wisconsin profile | $13.25 | $27,560 | $20,860 | $57,850 | 10,020 | 3.41 | 1.29 |
| 49 | Wyoming profile | $12.95 | $26,940 | $16,500 | $48,300 | 1,140 | 4.07 | 1.55 |
| 50 | Utah profile | $12.78 | $26,590 | $20,390 | $57,150 | 3,050 | 1.76 | 0.67 |
| 51 | South Carolina profile | $10.69 | $22,240 | $17,040 | $48,380 | 6,430 | 2.79 | 1.06 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (53-3030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-3031 Driver/Sales Workers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-3031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-3031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.