Transportation and Logistics · Career brief

Driver/Sales Workers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Driver/Sales Workers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$38,770

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

7.9%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

45,500

Lots of annual openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Drive trucks to deliver such items as food, medical supplies, or newspapers.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are growth and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Before choosing, compare:Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Light Truck Drivers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Driver/Sales Workers with another field Explore rankings in Transportation and Logistics Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$38,770

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

7.9%employment growth45,500openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

442,900

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Driver/sales workers (53-3031).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Drive trucks to deliver such items as food, medical supplies, or newspapers.
Inform regular customers of new products or services and price changes.
Listen to and resolve customers' complaints regarding products or services.
Collect money from customers, make change, and record transactions on customer receipts.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.
Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.6
Handling and Moving Objects4.6
Performing General Physical Activities4.4
Getting Information3.9
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public3.9

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.3
Conventional4.7
Enterprising3.7
Social2.4
Artistic1.0
Investigative1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Food Production Transportation Public Safety and Security Sales and Marketing

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Plan a realistic route or delivery problem with time, cost, safety, and disruption constraints, then revise it when one assumption changes.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Driver/sales workers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options