Automobile Driving Schools Revenue Benchmarks
The average automobile driving schools business in the United States generates $298K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 2,294 automobile driving schools businesses in the U.S., employing 13,912 workers with an average profit margin of 10.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $29K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Automobile Driving Schools Business Actually Do?
Driving schools training new drivers — teen driver education, adult driver training, CDL truck-driver training.
Who buys: Teens getting first license (parents pay), adult new drivers, aspiring truck drivers.
Average Revenue
$298K
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$49K
per year
Total Businesses
2,294
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$30K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$29K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Automobile Driving Schools Charge?
Driving schools charge per lesson or per package. Include teen driver education and commercial (CDL) programs.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Individual driving lesson (60 min) | $60–150 |
Teen driver program (30-hour classroom + drive) | $400–800 |
CDL Class A training (full) | $3,500–8,500 |
Behind-the-wheel test package | $100–300 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete automobile driving schools business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a automobile driving schools business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the automobile driving schools industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Curriculum & supplies | $3 | $10K | Textbooks, learning software, teaching aids, technology for students. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $164K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $9 | $26K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $10K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $57K | Insurance, licensing, IT, admin, professional development. |
Net profit | $10 | $30K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
12.49%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.12%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+9.23%
annual
Businesses Closed
3,945
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Automobile Driving Schools Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
60 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a automobile driving schools business do?
- Driving schools training new drivers — teen driver education, adult driver training, CDL truck-driver training. Teens getting first license (parents pay), adult new drivers, aspiring truck drivers.
- How much do automobile driving schools charge?
- Driving schools charge per lesson or per package. Include teen driver education and commercial (CDL) programs. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average automobile driving schools make per year?
- The average automobile driving schools business generates $298K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $30K per year at a 10.0% profit margin.
- How many automobile driving schools businesses are there in the US?
- There are 2,294 automobile driving schools businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 13,912 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a automobile driving schools business?
- Startup costs for a automobile driving schools business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the automobile driving schools industry?
- The average employee in the automobile driving schools industry earns $29K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The automobile driving schools industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 9.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.5% entry vs 9.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 62% of automobile driving schools businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 3,945 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the automobile driving schools industry earns $28,910/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 2,764 establishments employing 16,085 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The automobile driving schools industry has grown 128% since 2000 (from 21,175 to 48,361 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Automobile Driving Schools revenue with other industries: