California Median
$39,260
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $42,100
State Rank
#6 of 24
3,880 employed here
How much does a Taxi Driver make in California?
A Taxi Driver working in California earns a median salary of $39,260 per year, or about $18.88 per hour. That is 7% below the national median of $42,100 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $39,050 while the top 10% make $39,260 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,260 and $39,260 a year.
Taxi Driver salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,050 | $18.77 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $39,260 | $18.88 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,260 | $18.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $39,260 | $18.88 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,260 | $18.88 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 24 states and territories for Taxi Driver pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Taxi Driver salary in other states
Texas $48,740Nevada $44,800Colorado $43,490New York $41,570New Hampshire $41,510Missouri $37,560Oregon $37,120Maine $36,960North Carolina $36,950Maryland $36,900Illinois $36,770Michigan $36,670Utah $36,390Arizona $36,120Minnesota $35,710Pennsylvania $35,480Massachusetts $35,270Kentucky $33,850Georgia $33,430Virginia $28,490Florida $28,060Wisconsin $27,820Kansas $26,970
Working as a Taxi Driver in California
Nationally, about 41,000 people work as Taxi Drivers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($39,260) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Taxi Driver make in California?
The median Taxi Driver salary in California is $39,260 per year, or about $18.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $39,050 at the entry level to $39,260 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Taxi Drivers about 7% less than the national median of $42,100. California ranks 6th out of 24 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Taxi Drivers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $39,260 a year. About 3,880 Taxi Drivers are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Taxi Driver salary report
Related salaries
$58,640
median pay · 2,062,000 employed
$47,920
median pay · 403,000 employed
$56,850
median pay · 15,000 employed
$41,800
median pay · 23,000 employed
$49,640
median pay · 1,000 employed
$35,670
median pay · 102,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.