Sits behind the wheel of self-driving test vehicles, ready to take control, while recording how the autonomous system handles real traffic. BLS does not publish separate figures for light truck drivers; it counts them within light truck driver (SOC 53-3033), whose median pay is $44,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 53-3033
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $44,860a year, or $21.57/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $31KTop 10% $80K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.3%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 107,2001,068,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.1M
- Projected 20351.1M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.1M Projected 2035 1.1M - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school24.6%
- High school74%
- Some college0.3%
- Associate's1.2%
Highest education held by light truck drivers Segment Value Less than high school 24.6% High school 74% Some college 0.3% Associate's 1.2%
Also advertised as: AV Safety Driver, Vehicle Test Operator, Autonomous Vehicle Safety Operator, Self-Driving Car Test Driver, AV Operator.
Pay
How much do Light Truck Drivers make?
Every autonomous vehicle test operator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$44,860
Middle half earn $37,270 to $52,310
- 10th
- $30,800
- 25th
- $37,270
- 75th
- $52,310
- 90th
- $80,310
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $30,800 |
| 25th | $37,270 |
| Median | $44,860 |
| 75th | $52,310 |
| 90th | $80,310 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $44,860
- Median hourly wage
- $21.57/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $48,770
- People employed
- 983,300
Versus all US occupations
At $44,860, Light Truck Drivers earn 12% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,120 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 29% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $80,310 or more while the bottom 10% earn $30,800, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 11% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $57,190, and still leads at $55,872 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Light Truck Drivers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $57,190 | $55,872 | 1,790 |
| 2District of Columbia | $49,330 | $44,886 | 540 |
| 3Washington | $49,070 | $45,854 | 23,290 |
| 4Minnesota | $48,880 | $49,563 | 17,360 |
| 5Colorado | $48,410 | $46,976 | 15,810 |
| 6Maryland | $48,150 | $45,875 | 18,420 |
| 7Massachusetts | $48,110 | $45,491 | 23,350 |
| 8North Dakota | $47,950 | $53,901 | 1,950 |
| 9Illinois | $47,380 | $47,400 | 47,190 |
| 10Oregon | $47,150 | $45,617 | 11,120 |
Job outlook
Is Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Light Truck Drivers | +6.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Light Truck Drivers to change 6.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 67,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 107,200 openings are projected each year, 10.0% of the 1,068,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator
Most employers require a high school diploma, a valid driver's license with a clean record, and passing a background check and drug test; trucking roles require a commercial driver's license. Companies provide training in defensive driving, taking over control and their reporting tools.
States set testing rules, and California's Department of Motor Vehicles issues permits that specify when safety drivers are required. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also collects crash reports on automated systems. Experienced operators can move into test lead, triage analyst or operations roles.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as light truck drivers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)74%
- Less than a High School Diploma24.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1.2%
- Some College Courses0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 74% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 24.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 1.2% |
| Some College Courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator do?
Autonomous vehicle test operators ride in self-driving cars and trucks while the software drives, staying alert and ready to take over instantly if the system makes a mistake. They follow assigned routes and test plans, note how the vehicle behaves in situations such as merges, pedestrians and unprotected turns, and tag notable events so engineers can find them in the data later.
Some operators drive manually to collect mapping and sensor data, and others work on closed test tracks running specific scenarios. Before each shift they inspect the vehicle and sensors, and afterward they write reports. Autonomous trucking companies hire similar operators for highway freight testing.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor the autonomous system while it drives and take over when needed
- Follow assigned test routes and scenarios
- Tag and describe notable driving events for engineers
- Inspect vehicles and sensors before and after shifts
- Drive manually to collect mapping and sensor data
- Write shift reports and incident descriptions
- Run structured scenarios on closed test tracks
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Operators spend most of the shift seated in a vehicle on public roads or test tracks, often in pairs. Shifts can be early, late or overnight. Staying focused through long periods of uneventful driving is the main challenge, and the work depends on where companies are actively testing.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Writing2.8
- Mathematics2.3
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Service Orientation2.8
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Coordination2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Communications server software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Desktop communications software
- Industrial control software
- Inventory management software
- Route navigation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RCI) built on O*NET's Light Truck Driver profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.9
- Conventional5.0
- Investigative2.8
- Enterprising2.1
- Social1.4
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Office and Administrative Support
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with light truck drivers highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator$44,860
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator | $44,860 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator appears on
Questions
Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator: frequently asked questions
How much do Light Truck Drivers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for light truck drivers. It counts them within light truck driver, whose median pay is $44,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $37,270 and $52,310, and the top 10% earn $80,310 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Light Truck Drivers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 74.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.3% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 107,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator do?
Autonomous vehicle test operators ride in self-driving cars and trucks while the software drives, staying alert and ready to take over instantly if the system makes a mistake. A typical task: monitor the autonomous system while it drives and take over when needed. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Light Truck Drivers the most?
The highest state medians for Light Truck Drivers are Alaska ($57,190), District of Columbia ($49,330), Washington ($49,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Autonomous Vehicle Test Operator?
O*NET scores Light Truck Drivers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.