Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Taxi drivers operate in a career with a clearly defined national profile and a range of regional opportunities. Nationally, there are 204,000 taxi drivers, with a median annual salary of $36,220 and projected employment growth of 11.1%. The field also generates 23,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing movement and opportunities for entry. The role draws on a broad mix of abilities, including customer service, speaking and listening, problem solving and decision making, and interpersonal skills, along with fine motor skills, mechanical ability, and physical strength and stamina. Taxi drivers also benefit from being detail oriented and adaptable, and from having basic writing and reading skills. People considering this path can compare different states and metro areas by salary, employment levels, and CareerGPS opportunity scores to find locations that best match their goals. For those interested in related driving and passenger-transport roles, there are similar options such as bus drivers, shuttle drivers, and other motor vehicle operators.
Nationally, taxi drivers earn a median annual salary of $36,220. Within this overall picture, pay varies across states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, Texas shows a median salary of $48,740, the highest listed, while Virginia’s median of $28,490 is the lowest in that group. California and Maryland are close to the national median at $39,260 and $36,900, respectively, while Colorado stands at $43,490. Looking at metros, salaries cluster near the national median, with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin at $36,770 and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington at $37,420. Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a median salary of $35,290, while Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington is at $35,000. Milwaukee-Waukesha shows a lower median of $28,530. These differences give prospective taxi drivers a way to weigh earning potential alongside other factors such as opportunity score and employment levels.
Taxi driving offers a defined national employment base and measurable growth expectations. There are 204,000 taxi drivers nationwide, and projected employment growth is 11.1%. This same 11.1% growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas listed, indicating a consistent projection in those locations. The occupation also has an estimated 23,000 annual openings. Together, the current employment level, the projected growth rate, and the annual openings suggest a labor market with ongoing opportunities for new entrants as well as for experienced drivers moving between employers and regions. Individuals comparing this career with similar occupations—such as school bus monitors, school bus drivers, bus drivers for transit and intercity routes, shuttle drivers and chauffeurs, and other motor vehicle operators—can use the clear national employment and growth figures as concrete reference points when exploring their options in passenger transportation roles.
Location can make a meaningful difference for taxi drivers, both in pay and in overall opportunity, as reflected in CareerGPS opportunity scores. Among states, California ranks highest with an opportunity score of 67.38, median salary of $39,260, and employment of 3,880. Texas combines the highest listed state median salary at $48,740 with an opportunity score of 51.57 and employment of 460. Colorado shows a median salary of $43,490 and an opportunity score of 56.97, though with smaller listed employment of 60. Virginia and Maryland have opportunity scores of 54.96 and 52.88, with median salaries of $28,490 and $36,900, respectively. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton leads with an opportunity score of 63.37, a median salary of $35,290, and employment of 230. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin both show opportunity scores in the mid-50s and salaries around the national median. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington and Milwaukee-Waukesha have lower listed salaries, particularly Milwaukee at $28,530, and somewhat lower opportunity scores, giving drivers additional factors to weigh when choosing a region.
The typical education requirement for taxi drivers is “no formal educational credential.” This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who have not completed formal education programs yet are ready to develop and apply key skills. Success in this career relies on a mix of personal and practical abilities rather than specific degrees. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and speaking and listening are important for interacting with passengers. Fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and physical strength and stamina support the hands-on aspects of the work. Being detail oriented and adaptable helps drivers manage changing situations, while problem solving and decision making are useful when handling unexpected issues. Writing and reading skills also play a role in basic communication and understanding job-related information. Together, these skills form the core profile for individuals considering taxi driving or exploring related occupations in passenger transportation.
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