Taxi Driver Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Taxi Drivers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$42,100
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$20.24
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$75,800
entry level starts ~$34,650
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 41,000 employed

How much does a Taxi Driver make?

The median pay for a Taxi Driver in the United States is $42,100 per year — about $20.24 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $34,650, while the most experienced Taxi Drivers in the top 10% earn $75,800.

That is $19,290 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Taxi Driver salary range by percentile

Half of all Taxi Drivers earn between $37,790 and $60,960 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$34,650$16.66
25th percentile (early career)$37,790$18.17
50th percentile (median)$42,100$20.24
75th percentile (experienced)$60,960$29.31
90th percentile (top earners)$75,800$36.44

Highest-paying states for Taxi Driver

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Texas leads the country for Taxi Driver pay at $48,740 a year, followed by Nevada ($44,800) and Colorado ($43,490). At the other end, Kansas posts the lowest median at $26,970 — a gap of $21,770 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Texas$48,740$23.43+16%
2Nevada$44,800$21.54+6%
3Colorado$43,490$20.91+3%
4New York$41,570$19.99-1%
5New Hampshire$41,510$19.96-1%

Workforce and education

About 41,000 people work as Taxi Drivers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $49,930 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Taxi Driver make in the United States?
The median Taxi Driver salary in the United States is $42,100 per year, or about $20.24 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $34,650, while the top 10% of earners make $75,800 or more.
How does Taxi Driver pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Taxi Driver median of $42,100 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Taxi Drivers the most?
Texas is the highest-paying state for Taxi Drivers, with a median salary of $48,740 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Taxi Driver?
Becoming a Taxi Driver typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Taxi Drivers work in the United States?
About 41,000 people were employed as Taxi Drivers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.