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Driver/Sales Workers: Career Overview
Drive truck or other vehicle over established routes or within an established territory and sell or deliver goods, such as food products, including restaurant take-out items, or pick up or deliver items such as commercial laundry. May also take orders, collect payment, or stock merchandise at point of delivery.
The Daily Work of Driver/Sales Workers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of driver/sales workers cover:
- Drive trucks to deliver such items as food, medical supplies, or newspapers.
- Inform regular customers of new products or services and price changes.
- Record sales or delivery information on daily sales or delivery record.
- Listen to and resolve customers' complaints regarding products or services.
- Collect money from customers, make change, and record transactions on customer receipts.
- Maintain trucks and food-dispensing equipment and clean inside of machines that dispense food or beverages.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top driver/sales workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Driver/Sales Workers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Automotive Parts Delivery Driver (Auto Parts Delivery Driver)
- Bakery Deliverer
- Bobtailer
- Bread Distributor
- Bread Jockey
- Breadman
- Catering Driver
- City Route Driver
How Many Driver/Sales Workers Are There?
There are roughly 605,565 driver/sales workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Driver/Sales Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $45,103 |
| Hourly median | $21.68 |
| 10th percentile | $27,212 |
| 25th percentile | $36,157 |
| 75th percentile | $54,049 |
| 90th percentile | $62,995 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $47,240 |
| Vermont | $44,900 |
| California | $44,370 |
| Michigan | $44,200 |
| Colorado | $43,560 |
| Kansas | $43,380 |
| Massachusetts | $42,790 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 |
| Alaska | $41,590 |
| Tennessee | $41,200 |
| New York | $40,970 |
| South Dakota | $39,900 |
| Missouri | $39,410 |
| Iowa | $39,110 |
| Arizona | $38,910 |
| Washington | $38,800 |
| North Dakota | $38,610 |
| Oregon | $38,180 |
| Alabama | $37,710 |
| New Jersey | $37,450 |
| Arkansas | $37,440 |
| Maine | $36,610 |
| Wyoming | $36,450 |
| Florida | $36,340 |
| Illinois | $36,220 |
| Virginia | $36,040 |
| District of Columbia | $35,750 |
| Indiana | $35,660 |
| Connecticut | $35,630 |
| Texas | $35,580 |
| Maryland | $34,960 |
| New Mexico | $34,870 |
| Idaho | $34,670 |
| Mississippi | $34,290 |
| New Hampshire | $34,080 |
| Rhode Island | $33,280 |
| Delaware | $32,970 |
| Georgia | $32,970 |
| Ohio | $32,500 |
| Minnesota | $32,390 |
| Nebraska | $32,390 |
| Kentucky | $31,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,680 |
| South Carolina | $30,510 |
| North Carolina | $30,210 |
| Montana | $30,100 |
| West Virginia | $28,660 |
| Wisconsin | $27,030 |
| Utah | $26,310 |
| Nevada | $25,690 |
| Oklahoma | $23,220 |
| Guam | $21,820 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,980 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for driver/sales workers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $41,248 | 13.5% | 0.83 |
| New England | $38,099 | 3.6% | 0.85 |
| Rocky Mountains | $37,876 | 4.5% | 1.20 |
| Plains States | $37,027 | 7.5% | 1.11 |
| Middle Atlantic | $36,280 | 16.6% | 1.20 |
| Great Lakes | $35,334 | 17.5% | 1.24 |
| Southwest | $34,926 | 13.6% | 1.08 |
| Southeast | $34,720 | 22.6% | 0.93 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $55,200 | 1,180 |
| Yuba City, CA | CA | $51,200 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $49,140 | 350 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | ND | $48,920 | 540 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $48,290 | 660 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $48,270 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $48,240 | 700 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $47,790 | 1,420 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of driver/sales workers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 183,980 | $29,850 |
| Wholesale Trade | 99,460 | $46,690 |
| Retail Trade | 44,350 | $36,010 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 33,490 | $51,860 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 22,400 | $46,520 |
| Manufacturing | 15,850 | $46,760 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4,030 | $39,510 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3,100 | $38,020 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of driver/sales workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Time Pressure
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Driver/Sales Workers
Typical driver/sales workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products (Primary-Long)
- Fast Food and Counter Workers (Supplemental)
- Cashiers (Supplemental)
- Counter and Rental Clerks (Primary-Short)
- Retail Salespersons (Supplemental)
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel (Supplemental)
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers (Primary-Short)
- Customer Service Representatives (Supplemental)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-3031.00 (Driver/Sales Workers).
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