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.
Motor vehicle operators, all other (53-3099) work in a transportation role that does not fall into more specific driver categories. Nationally, this occupation employs about 79,000 people and offers a median annual salary of $36,260. Employment in this field is projected to grow by 6.0%, with an estimated 11,000 annual openings, suggesting a steady flow of opportunities from both new positions and turnover. Typical entry into this career does not require a formal educational credential, which can make it accessible to a wide range of job seekers, including those starting their careers or changing fields. Success in this occupation relies on a mix of physical, mechanical, and people-oriented skills, including fine motor ability, physical strength and stamina, customer service, and interpersonal skills. For individuals interested in driving-related work, similar options include heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, light truck drivers, school bus monitors, and several types of bus drivers.
For motor vehicle operators, all other, the national median annual salary is $36,260. Pay levels vary by location. Among the states with strong opportunity scores, median salaries range from $36,540 in Massachusetts and $38,950 in New York to $45,050 in California and $59,730 in Washington. Colorado sits in the middle at $39,190. At the metro level, median pay spans from $33,110 in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area to $64,600 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria region. Several major metros report median salaries above $45,000, including New York-Newark-Jersey City at $45,850, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $48,230, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $50,140. These differences show that earnings can shift substantially by state and metropolitan area, so job seekers may want to weigh local pay against employment levels and opportunity scores when comparing options.
Motor vehicle operators, all other have a national employment base of about 79,000 workers. The occupation is projected to grow by 6.0%, indicating an expanding workforce over the projection period. In addition, there are an estimated 11,000 annual openings. These openings reflect both new positions created by growth and positions that become available as people change jobs or leave the workforce. All of the listed top states and metro areas share the same 6.0% growth rate, so regional differences in opportunity are driven more by pay, employment size, and opportunity scores than by differing growth percentages. Together, the current employment level, projected growth, and consistent flow of annual openings suggest a labor market that offers ongoing opportunities across different parts of the country for those interested in this type of driving-related work.
Career conditions for motor vehicle operators, all other vary by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, California, Massachusetts, and New York all post scores above 65, with California at 67.38 and New York close behind at 65.78. Washington and Colorado also rank strongly, with opportunity scores above 56. Median salaries differ meaningfully: Washington leads with $59,730, while California sits at $45,050 and New York at $38,950. Employment levels are highest in California and New York, both above 3,500 workers, compared with 310 in Washington. At the metro level, opportunity scores are even higher in certain areas. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (77.42) and New York-Newark-Jersey City (77.27) stand out, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria combines a high median salary of $64,600 with 1,510 jobs, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton offers a solid opportunity score but a lower median salary of $33,110, highlighting the importance of comparing pay, opportunity scores, and job counts together.
Motor vehicle operators, all other typically enter the field with no formal educational credential. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who may not have completed traditional academic programs but are ready to develop and apply practical skills. Success in this role depends on several key abilities. Fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and physical strength and stamina support the physical side of the work. Being detail oriented and adaptable helps operators handle varying conditions and requirements. Strong customer service and interpersonal skills are also important, as many roles involve direct contact with people. Speaking and listening skills underpin effective communication, while problem solving and decision making support safe and effective responses to everyday challenges. Science skills also appear among the top skills, indicating that some positions may draw on basic scientific understanding as part of the job. Together, these skills form a broad, versatile profile for people interested in this occupation.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
