To become a professional driver, you need to develop your driving skills, especially your ability to race cars. Most people interested in this job start out in go-kart driving, which gives you experience behind the wheel of larger, faster vehicles. You can then get involved in your local track or course to begin building a network and establishing your reputation. Try to find an older sports car that you can make track-ready and practice with as often as possible. One of the most prominent qualifications is joining a professional organization, like the Sports Car Club of America, which helps you find and compete in beginner racing events. You can also get certified as an ARDS driver coach which allows you to get paid to train inexperienced drivers and gives you the opportunity to earn an income while improving your driving skills.

If you are interested in a job related to Professional Driver, here are some popular related job searches with the most open positions on ZipRecruiter.

Top Types Of Professional Driver Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Professional Driver positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Chauffeur Driver
Salary range: $40,000 - $61,500
Chauffeur Driver is a common job search query. Most salaries for Chauffeur Driver jobs pay between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $61,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Chauffeur Driver job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Full Time Personal Driver
Salary range: $43,000 - $60,000
Full-time personal drivers transport their clients to their desired destination. They may use their own car or the client's vehicle. This job comes in several forms, depending on the type of services you provide. Some personal drivers work exclusively for a single family and drive a vehicle provided by that family. Other personal drivers work for a chauffeur service such as an on-call limousine rental company. In this role, you pick-up and drop off passengers on a pre-arranged schedule. Aside from passengers, you may also transport luggage, groceries, or other cargo as needed. Full-time personal drivers often work on-call to provide transportation services at any time of day.
Private Driver
Salary range: $29,500 - $34,500
Private Driver is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Private Driver jobs pay between $29,500 (25th percentile) and $34,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Private Driver job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Driver
Salary range: $30,000 - $42,000
Drivers operate motor vehicles to transport cargo or passengers between locations. The kind of vehicle they drive vary, depending on the type of company they work for and what industry they work in. For example, a commercial truck driver may transport consumer goods between warehouses and retail locations. Bus and taxi drivers pick up and drop off passengers at various locations along a specific route. Couriers collect packages from businesses and deliver them to their destination in a short timeframe. Many different industries need qualified professional drivers, including construction, health care, commerce, and the commercial trucking and passenger transportation industries.
Dealer Trade Driver
Salary range: $30,000 - $37,500
As a dealer trade driver, your primary responsibilities are to deliver vehicles to dealerships and customers while keeping the vehicle in excellent condition. Your duties include verifying the vehicle identification and stock number match relevant paperwork, checking that all reference guides, wheel locks, and keys transfer with the traded car, ensuring the vehicle is clean and undamaged throughout transport, and providing pick up and drop off services for customers. A dealer trade driver communicates with customers as well as sales staff to ensure appropriate and legal transfer of ownership and customer satisfaction.
Hotshot Driver
Salary range: $47,000 - $71,500
A hotshot driver is a truck driver whose responsibilities are to haul and deliver freight to a customer. In this career, you usually drive a pickup truck with a trailer or other specialized hauling equipment, but you may also operate a larger vehicle. Your primary duties are to expedite delivery of equipment or freight to your client. For example, you may haul essential equipment to distant locations in oil fields or to remote areas where power stations or other utilities are in need of equipment to keep service running. Many hotshot drivers operate as independent contractors.
Cb Driver
Salary range: $30,000 - $37,500
Cb Driver is a common job search query. Most salaries for Cb Driver jobs pay between $30,000 (25th percentile) and $37,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Cb Driver job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Private Chauffeur
Salary range: $40,000 - $61,500
Private Chauffeur is a common job search query. Most salaries for Private Chauffeur jobs pay between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $61,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Private Chauffeur job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Pickup Truck Driver
Salary range: $39,500 - $66,000
Pickup Truck Driver is a common job search query. Most salaries for Pickup Truck Driver jobs pay between $39,500 (25th percentile) and $66,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for Pickup Truck Driver job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Non Cdl Truck Driver
Salary range: $65,000 - $84,500
Non Cdl Truck Driver is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Non Cdl Truck Driver jobs pay between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $84,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Non Cdl Truck Driver job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

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