Also called: NASCAR Driver, IndyCar Driver
Races cars professionally in series like NASCAR, IndyCar, or Formula 1.
Drivers spend race weekends practicing, qualifying, and racing, plus hours in simulators, fitness training, and sponsor appearances. Most started karting as young kids. Reaching the top series often requires sponsors and family money.
Estimate. Top NASCAR Cup and IndyCar drivers earn millions; drivers in lower series often pay to race or earn little.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Years of karting and lower racing series; no degree required.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Self-taught. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Motorsports Management.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS athlete growth; seats are extremely limited.
Low risk for 10 years. Simulators and data shape setup and practice; racing wheel-to-wheel stays human, but seats often go to drivers who bring sponsors.
Classes: Physics, Auto tech CTE, Physical education.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.