How much does a motor vehicle operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $17.88 an hour or $3,098 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.88
- Average (mean)
- $42,430
- Jobs
- 46,880
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,540 | $12.76 | |
| 25th | $31,220 | $15.01 | |
| Median | $37,180 | $17.88 | |
| 75th | $48,980 | $23.55 | |
| 90th | $66,500 | $31.97 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Alaska | $74,710 |
| District of Columbia | $69,870 |
| Hawaii | $61,110 |
| Washington | $59,730 |
| Oklahoma | $57,550 |
| Utah | $56,140 |
| Arizona | $55,680 |
| New Mexico | $54,270 |
| South Dakota | $53,790 |
| Alabama | $52,100 |
| New Jersey | $50,680 |
| Kansas | $49,880 |
| Wyoming | $48,530 |
| Iowa | $48,300 |
| Mississippi | $46,500 |
| California | $45,050 |
| Illinois | $44,810 |
| Rhode Island | $42,530 |
| Montana | $41,860 |
| Idaho | $41,190 |
| Colorado | $39,190 |
| New York | $38,950 |
| Delaware | $38,790 |
| Louisiana | $37,730 |
| Connecticut | $37,440 |
| Florida | $37,330 |
| Massachusetts | $36,540 |
| Virginia | $36,520 |
| Texas | $36,340 |
| Georgia | $36,120 |
| Arkansas | $36,090 |
| Maryland | $35,440 |
| Oregon | $34,870 |
| Minnesota | $34,670 |
| North Dakota | $34,230 |
| Michigan | $33,990 |
| Wisconsin | $33,970 |
| Maine | $33,690 |
| Tennessee | $33,550 |
| Nebraska | $33,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,790 |
| Missouri | $32,330 |
| West Virginia | $31,790 |
| New Hampshire | $31,770 |
| Ohio | $31,040 |
| Vermont | $29,290 |
| North Carolina | $29,000 |
| South Carolina | $27,840 |
| Indiana | $26,920 |
| Nevada | $25,290 |
| Kentucky | $23,870 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Savannah, GA | $74,770 |
| Anchorage, AK | $74,710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $73,280 |
| Salinas, CA | $71,140 |
| Honolulu, HI | $64,800 |
| Washington, DC | $64,600 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $64,150 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $62,910 |
| Stockton, CA | $62,460 |
| Crestview, FL | $62,230 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $61,360 |
| Chicago, IL | $59,330 |
| Seattle, WA | $58,510 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $57,550 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $56,880 |
In other countries
Motor Vehicle Operator belongs to the international group "Motorcycle drivers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Ambulance Driver and Attendant$35,450
- Driver/Sales Worker$38,770
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$58,640
- Light Truck Driver$44,860
- Bus Driver$47,920
- Bus Driver$59,050
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$37,290
- Taxi Driver$42,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a motor vehicle operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $17.88 ($37,180 a year).
How much does a motor vehicle operator make a month?
About $3,098 a month before tax, based on a median of $37,180 a year.
How much does a motor vehicle operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,540 or less a year ($12.76 an hour); the top 10% make $66,500 or more.
Which state pays motor vehicle operators the most?
Alaska, with a median of $74,710 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($69,870) and Hawaii ($61,110).
Which city pays motor vehicle operators the most?
Savannah, GA, with a median of $74,770 a year.
How many motor vehicle operators are there in the United States?
About 46,880 people work as motor vehicle operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.