Taxi Drivers Salary
In California, taxi drivers earn $39,260 at the median, or about $18.88 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $36,989 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 91.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $39K get you in California?
About taxi drivers
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What this looks like in California
Taxi drivers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 90.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level taxi drivers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $210 spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track taxi drivers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a taxi driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 90.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for taxi drivers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new taxi drivers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,343/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 105% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taxi driver a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for taxi drivers?
California pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do taxi drivers make in California?
The median is $39,260 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,050, and experienced taxi drivers can clear $39,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,736/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 90.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a taxi drivers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median taxi drivers salary is worth about $36,989 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do taxi drivers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.