Taxi Drivers
Taxi Drivers (SOC 53-3054) earn a median $42,100 a year ($20.24 an hour) in the United States, with 41,050 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Texas.
What taxi drivers do
Taxi drivers carry passengers on an unplanned basis and charge a fare, usually based on a meter. Unlike shuttle drivers and chauffeurs, whose trips are planned or scheduled, a taxi trip is arranged on the spot, so the driver takes the passenger to a chosen destination and collects the fare when the ride ends. The SOC definition keeps the two groups apart for exactly that reason, and scheduled shuttle service and hearse driving belong in the shuttle drivers and chauffeurs code. O*NET lists many alternate titles for this occupation, including cab driver, hack driver, pedicab driver, rickshaw driver, bicycle taxi driver, rideshare cab driver, and Lyft driver, so the work covers motor vehicles and human-powered ones alike. No core task list is published for this occupation in the O*NET data used here, so the definition rests mainly on the SOC wording: a driver, a vehicle, a passenger picked up without advance planning, and a fare charged for the trip. The metered fare is the feature that most clearly marks the occupation off from neighboring passenger driving jobs.
Also called: Bicycle Taxi Driver, Cab Driver, Driver, Hack Driver, Hacker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.66 | $18.17 | $20.24 | $29.31 | $36.44 | $24.01 | 41,050 |
| Annual | $34,650 | $37,790 | $42,100 | $60,960 | $75,800 | $49,930 | ||
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 taxi drivers 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 | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.01 | $18.12 | $23.43 | $29.07 | $29.07 | $23.78 | 460 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Annual | $33,300 | $37,700 | $48,740 | $60,470 | $60,470 | $49,450 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $16.21 | $18.83 | $21.54 | $31.57 | $36.83 | $25.14 | 2,980 | 1.92 | 7.26 |
| Annual | $33,710 | $39,170 | $44,800 | $65,670 | $76,610 | $52,280 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $17.78 | $18.55 | $20.91 | $21.81 | $33.19 | $21.50 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $38,580 | $43,490 | $45,360 | $69,030 | $44,720 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.05 | $17.32 | $19.98 | $20.24 | $20.24 | $19.73 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $35,470 | $36,030 | $41,570 | $42,100 | $42,100 | $41,030 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $13.29 | $13.65 | $19.96 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $17.61 | 80 | 0.11 | 0.42 |
| Annual | $27,650 | $28,390 | $41,510 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $36,630 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.77 | $18.88 | $18.88 | $18.88 | $18.88 | $18.79 | 3,880 | 0.21 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $39,050 | $39,260 | $39,260 | $39,260 | $39,260 | $39,080 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $16.21 | $18.83 | $21.54 | $31.57 | $36.83 | $25.14 | 2,980 | 1.92 | 7.26 |
| Annual | $33,710 | $39,170 | $44,800 | $65,670 | $76,610 | $52,280 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $16.63 | $16.63 | $17.37 | $22.15 | $26.42 | $20.56 | 950 | 0.29 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $34,580 | $34,580 | $36,120 | $46,080 | $54,960 | $42,760 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $11.35 | $11.84 | $13.37 | $13.94 | $17.41 | $13.78 | 880 | 0.30 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $23,600 | $24,630 | $27,820 | $28,990 | $36,210 | $28,670 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.47 | $13.48 | $13.49 | $13.50 | $17.40 | $14.22 | 860 | 0.09 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $28,020 | $28,030 | $28,060 | $28,070 | $36,190 | $29,580 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $16.21 | $18.83 | $21.54 | $31.57 | $36.83 | $25.20 | 2,960 | 2.60 | 9.85 |
| Annual | $33,710 | $39,170 | $44,800 | $65,670 | $76,610 | $52,410 | ||||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | Hourly | $16.19 | $18.06 | $18.28 | $18.28 | $18.28 | $17.69 | 130 | 0.12 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $33,670 | $37,560 | $38,020 | $38,020 | $38,020 | $36,780 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $15.28 | $15.28 | $17.99 | $19.12 | $23.15 | $18.38 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $31,770 | $31,770 | $37,420 | $39,760 | $48,150 | $38,220 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $17.38 | $17.68 | $20.90 | $21.36 | $18.35 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $36,150 | $36,770 | $43,460 | $44,420 | $38,160 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $11.88 | $15.19 | $17.11 | $17.36 | $20.00 | $15.97 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.24 |
| Annual | $24,720 | $31,600 | $35,600 | $36,100 | $41,600 | $33,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $16.21 | $18.83 | $21.54 | $31.57 | $36.83 | $25.20 | 2,960 | 2.60 | 9.85 |
| Annual | $33,710 | $39,170 | $44,800 | $65,670 | $76,610 | $52,410 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $15.79 | $16.94 | $16.97 | $17.52 | $18.00 | $17.10 | 230 | 0.08 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $32,830 | $35,240 | $35,290 | $36,450 | $37,440 | $35,560 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $17.38 | $17.68 | $20.90 | $21.36 | $18.35 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $36,150 | $36,770 | $43,460 | $44,420 | $38,160 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $15.28 | $15.28 | $17.99 | $19.12 | $23.15 | $18.38 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $31,770 | $31,770 | $37,420 | $39,760 | $48,150 | $38,220 | ||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $11.66 | $13.24 | $13.71 | $13.94 | $17.13 | $14.08 | 140 | 0.17 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $24,250 | $27,530 | $28,530 | $29,000 | $35,630 | $29,280 | ||||
Top industries employing taxi drivers
Taxi and Limousine Service employ 98.9% of taxi drivers nationally (40,610 jobs) at a median $42,100 a year ($20.24 an hour), followed by Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (0.6%) and Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (0.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi and Limousine Service NAICS 485300 | 40,610 | 98.9% | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation NAICS 485900 | 260 | 0.6% | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services NAICS 621900 | 40 | 0.1% | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 30 | 0.1% | $28,600 | $13.75 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (41,050). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,310 for taxi drivers in May 2021 and $42,100 in May 2025, with employment of 13,950 and 41,050.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,310 | $14.09 | 13,950 |
| May 2022 | $30,670 | $14.75 | 13,820 |
| May 2023 | $34,680 | $16.67 | 17,770 |
| May 2024 | $36,220 | $17.42 | 17,510 |
| May 2025 | $42,100 | $20.24 | 41,050 |
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
24 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 | Texas profile | $23.43 | $48,740 | $33,300 | $60,470 | 460 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 2 | Nevada profile | $21.54 | $44,800 | $33,710 | $76,610 | 2,980 | 1.92 | 7.26 |
| 3 | Colorado profile | $20.91 | $43,490 | $36,980 | $69,030 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| 4 | New York profile | $19.98 | $41,570 | $35,470 | $42,100 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | New Hampshire profile | $19.96 | $41,510 | $27,650 | $41,600 | 80 | 0.11 | 0.42 |
| 6 | California profile | $18.88 | $39,260 | $39,050 | $39,260 | 3,880 | 0.21 | 0.81 |
| 7 | Missouri profile | $18.06 | $37,560 | $28,600 | $38,020 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.26 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $17.85 | $37,120 | $30,790 | $53,920 | 240 | 0.12 | 0.47 |
| 9 | Maine profile | $17.77 | $36,960 | $34,380 | $47,570 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.28 |
| 10 | North Carolina profile | $17.77 | $36,950 | $31,410 | $43,390 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $17.74 | $36,900 | $32,820 | $64,790 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.07 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $17.68 | $36,770 | $31,200 | $44,390 | 190 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $17.63 | $36,670 | $31,660 | $42,650 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.07 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $17.50 | $36,390 | $24,600 | $41,250 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| 15 | Arizona profile | $17.37 | $36,120 | $34,580 | $54,960 | 950 | 0.29 | 1.11 |
| 16 | Minnesota profile | $17.17 | $35,710 | $30,250 | $39,430 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $26,470 | $45,750 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| 18 | Massachusetts profile | $16.96 | $35,270 | $32,830 | $37,440 | ** | ** | ** |
| 19 | Kentucky profile | $16.28 | $33,850 | $28,290 | $44,960 | 150 | 0.07 | 0.28 |
| 20 | Georgia profile | $16.07 | $33,430 | $29,360 | $48,690 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 21 | Virginia profile | $13.70 | $28,490 | $26,270 | $60,070 | 190 | 0.05 | 0.18 |
| 22 | Florida profile | $13.49 | $28,060 | $28,020 | $36,190 | 860 | 0.09 | 0.33 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $13.37 | $27,820 | $23,600 | $36,210 | 880 | 0.30 | 1.13 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | $12.97 | $26,970 | $20,640 | $41,600 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.15 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (53-3050), 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 53-3054 Taxi Drivers.
**- 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 53-3054, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-3054.00, 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.