Average Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other is $37,180 per year. The middle 50% earn between $31,220 and $48,980, with 46,880 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 169 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $26,540
- 25th
- $31,220
- Median
- $37,180
- 75th
- $48,980
- 90th
- $66,500
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
This is a lower-wage occupation relative to the US labor market. Pay is below the national median for all workers.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two motor vehicle operators, all other at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for motor vehicle operators, all other from 2024 to 2034. Growth is above the US average of about 4% across all occupations. This is an expanding field.
- Projected growth
- +6.0%
- 4,700 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 11,100
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings are high relative to the workforce size, reflecting meaningful turnover and new-hire volume.
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
There are no formal educational requirements for entry. Much of the training happens through experience on the job.
Where Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where motor vehicle operators, all other work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Alaska at $74,710, about 100.9% above the national median. At the metro level, Savannah, GA leads with a median of $74,770.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $74,710 | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $69,870 | 980 |
| Hawaii | $61,110 | 230 |
| Washington | $59,730 | 310 |
| Oklahoma | $57,550 | 180 |
| Utah | $56,140 | 70 |
| Arizona | $55,680 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $54,270 | 160 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | $74,770 | N/A |
| Anchorage, AK | $74,710 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | $73,280 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $71,140 | 50 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $64,800 | 180 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $64,600 | 1,510 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $64,150 | 60 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $62,910 | 60 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see motor vehicle operators, all other pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other rose from $32,910 to $37,180, a gain of +13.0% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $32,910 would need to be worth $41,443 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $37,180 is −$4,263 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -10.3% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 13.0% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +13.0%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- -10.3%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $37,180
- 2024
- $36,260
- 2023
- $35,690
- 2022
- $33,210
- 2021
- $30,600
- 2020
- $37,170
- 2019
- $32,910
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Shuttle Drivers And Chauffeurs
- $37,290
- Driver/Sales Workers
- $38,770
- Taxi Drivers
- $42,100
- Light Truck Drivers
- $44,860
- Bus Drivers, School
- $47,920
Common salary questions for Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.