Driver/Sales Workers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Transportation and Material Moving · SOC 53-3031 · O*NET 53-3031.00
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 $38,770 per year, ranking in the top 90% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +7.9% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly 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 $38,770. That puts driver/sales workers at #742 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 +7.9%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 442K positions in 2024 to 478K in 2034, a net change of 36K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
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
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about driver/sales workers
What is the median salary for driver/sales workers?
The median annual salary for driver/sales workers is $38,770 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is driver/sales workers a growing career?
BLS projects +7.9% growth for driver/sales workers from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become driver/sales worker?
The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to driver/sales workers?
Related occupations within the Transportation and Material Moving category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.