Available data released by ZipRecruiter shows that as of September 11, 2023, the average hourly pay for a Food Truck Driver in the United States is $30.01 an hour.
ZipRecruiter noted that hourly wages could be as high as $54.33 and as low as $11.06. Across the United States, the majority of Food Truck Driver wages currently range between $18.99 (25th percentile) to $39.90 (75th percentile).
The bottom line is that the average pay range of a Food Truck Driver varies greatly (by as much as $20.91), which suggests that there may be opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
Please note that the annual salary of a food truck driver in the United States of America can be as high as $78,282 and as low as $47,907 per year.
Duties of a Food Truck Driver
The role food truck drivers play cannot be underrated in the food truck industry. This is because a food truck driver is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of a food truck.
For example, a food truck driver is responsible for driving the food truck to various locations, setting up and dismantling the mobile kitchen, preparing, and serving food, handling transactions, and ensuring food safety standards are met in some cases.
Also in some cases, food truck drivers are saddled with the responsibility of interacting with customers, maintaining the cleanliness of the truck, and assisting with inventory management.
It is important to note that there are factors that can determine how much a food truck driver can make and that is why there are disparities in the figure stated above. So, we will consider some of the key factors that can determine how much a food truck driver is likely going to make annually,
Factors That Influence the Income of a Food Truck Driver
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The Location of Operation
As expected, different cities or states have different pay for food truck drivers. For example, food truck drivers in Richmond, California earn an average of $78,282 per year, $6,523 per month, $1,505 per week, and $37.64 per hour.
Food truck drivers in Bellevue, Washington earn an average of $78,020 per year, $6,501 per month, $1,500 per week, and $37.51 per hour.
In Federal Way, Washington, food truck drivers earn an average of $74,100 per year, $6,175 per month, $1,425 per week, and $35.63 per hour.
In Stamford, Connecticut, food truck drivers earn an average of $73,608 per year, $6,134 per month, $1,415 per week, and $35.39 per hour. In San Francisco, California, food truck drivers earn an average of $73,001 per year, $6,083 per month, $1,403 per week, and $35.10 per hour.
In Santa Clara, California, food truck driver earns an average of $72,989 per year, $6,082 per month, $1,403 per week, and $35.09 per hour.
Note that the cities listed above are the cities that pay the highest to food truck drivers in the United States. Interestingly, these cities usually attract loads of food truck drivers who are looking for job opportunities.
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The Years of Experience and Qualifications of the Food Truck Driver
If you want your organization to favorably compete in your industry and you want trusted hands to handle key positions in your organization, then you must be ready to pay premium salaries to attract highly experienced employees with the required qualifications.
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The Company You Are Working For
It is not out of place for different food truck companies to either choose to pay higher or lower than the industry’s average salary.
So, if you have the required experience and qualifications, you may aim to work for food truck companies that are paying higher salaries. As a matter of fact, companies that pay higher salaries usually attract some of the best hands in the industry.
For example, in the United States, food truck companies like Roaming Hunger, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Kogi BBQ, Phenomenon, Green Truck, Cousins Maine Lobster, The Halal Guys, Nong’s Khao Man Gai, Pierogi Wagon, and Curbside Creations are known to pay some of the highest salaries to food truck drivers.
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Type of Cuisine the Food Truck is Serving
For example, a food truck that is serving specialized or gourmet cuisines may attract a niche market willing to pay premium prices, potentially leading to higher profits and higher salaries for their workers.
Also, a food truck that sells seasonal food like ice cream may want to pay lower salaries to their food truck drivers because they may not be operating all year round.
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The Event Opportunities
When a food truck participates in high-traffic events, such as food festivals, musical concerts, and sporting events et al, the likelihood of the food truck making more money cannot be ruled out.
Although, food truck drivers usually pay entry fees to attend these events, but the potential for increased sales can make it worthwhile.
In essence, if you want to earn more as a food truck driver, then you must make sure you choose the right location to pursue your career, acquire all the needed certifications and experience that will put you ahead of the average food truck driver, and make sure you are always upgrading your skills and networking with key stakeholders in the industry.