How much does a taxi driver make?

The median pay is $20.24 per hour — roughly $42,000 a year, with the real range running from about $16.66/hr (10th percentile) to $36.44/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a taxi driver?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a taxi driver actually do all day?

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.

Transportation

Taxi Drivers

Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on an unplanned basis and charge a fare, usually based on a meter.

What it pays
Taxi Drivers earn a median of $20.24/hr — about $42,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $16.66/hr; the top 10% earn $36.44/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 91.5% of taxi drivers are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.

Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a taxi driver make?: The median pay is $20.24 per hour — roughly $42,000 a year, with the real range running from about $16.66/hr (10th percentile) to $36.44/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a taxi driver?: The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
What does a taxi driver actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.