Driver/Sales Workers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Driver/Sales Workers fall under the Transportation and Material Moving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Driver/Sales Workers earn a median salary of $37,130 per year, ranking in the top 91% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +8.8% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do driver/sales workers earn?

The median annual wage for driver/sales workers is $37,130. That puts driver/sales workers at #740 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is driver/sales workers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for driver/sales workers is +8.8%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 451K positions in 2024 to 491K in 2034, a net change of 40K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.

What do driver/sales workers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working driver/sales workers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Listen to and resolve customers' complaints regarding products or services.
2. 2.Collect money from customers, make change, and record transactions on customer receipts.
3. 3.Inform regular customers of new products or services and price changes.
4. 4.Maintain trucks and food-dispensing equipment and clean inside of machines that dispense food or beverages.
5. 5.Drive trucks to deliver such items as food, medical supplies, or newspapers.
6. 6.Record sales or delivery information on daily sales or delivery record.

Top skills for driver/sales workers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become driver/sales worker?

Many driver/sales workers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
  $226,600 median
• Air Traffic Controllers
  $144,580 median
• Commercial Pilots
  $122,670 median
• Ship Engineers
  $101,320 median
• Transportation Inspectors
  $85,750 median
• Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
  $85,540 median

Common questions parents ask about driver/sales workers