Taxi Drivers
Also called: Bicycle Taxi Driver, Cab Driver, Driver, Hack Driver, Hacker, Limo Driver (Limousine Driver), Lyft Driver, Pedicab Driver
Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on an unplanned basis and charge a fare, usually based on a meter.
What taxi drivers do
Typical tasks
- Collect fares or vouchers from passengers, and make change or issue receipts as necessary.
- Communicate with dispatchers by radio, telephone, or computer to exchange information and receive requests for passenger service.
- Complete accident reports when necessary.
- Determine fares based on trip distances and times, using taximeters and fee schedules, and announce fares to passengers.
- Drive taxicabs or privately owned vehicles to transport passengers.
- Follow relevant safety regulations and state laws governing vehicle operation, and ensure that passengers follow safety regulations.
- Notify dispatchers or company mechanics of vehicle problems.
- Perform minor vehicle repairs, such as cleaning spark plugs, or take vehicles to mechanics for servicing.
- Perform routine vehicle maintenance, such as regulating tire pressure and adding gasoline, oil, and water.
- Pick up passengers at prearranged locations, at taxi stands, or by cruising streets in high-traffic areas.
- Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting vehicles, and help them with any luggage.
- Provide passengers with information or advice about the local area, points of interest, hotels, or restaurants.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Taxi Drivers salary
The median annual wage for taxi drivers is $42,100 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $34,650 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $75,800. The mean annual wage is $49,930.
The mean hourly wage of $24.00 is 3.3× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Taxi Drivers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $42,100 → in 3 years $46,600 → in 5 years $49,900 → in 10 years $59,100 (10-year range $50,800–$68,600). The model assumes pay growth of +3.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Taxi Drivers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Taxi Drivers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Taxi Drivers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Taxi Drivers United States | タクシー運転手 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $42,100 | ¥4.51M ≈ $28,669 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $59,100 | ¥6.23M |
| Outlook score | 65 | 61 |
| AI replacement risk | 40% Low | 34% Low |
| Workers | 41K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Taxi Drivers
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become taxi drivers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as taxi drivers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.