DMV Worker Career
DMV Worker Career
The Real Poop
The name may vary by location—some states have the Department of Motor Vehicles, others have the Registry of Motor Vehicles—but whatever its name, the game is the same: it's the state-level governmental organization responsible for the registration of everything that's powered and moves (source). We'll refer to it as the DMV from here on out. If, like much of gas-powered America, you own a motor vehicle of some kind, then you know it, you've used it, you love it.
Well, maybe not that last part.
The sad but true thing is most people just don't have any love for the DMV. If you ask ten random people on the street to imagine you're the DMV, five of them will yell at you, four more will swear profusely, and the last one might just punch you in the face. And on top of that, the average salary for a DMV worker is a mere $35,000 a year (source)—enough to keep you housed and fed, but still not a heck of a lot. So why would someone want to work there?
Answer: because it's a job with great benefits, loads of upward mobility, manageable hours, and the guarantee that you'll have some incredible stories. Working at the DMV isn't just about channeling your inner Patty and Selma Bouvier as you tell customers that they've filled out the form wrong. It turns out there are actually lots of career options available to you (source).
From front desk clerks and call center operators to accountants, investigators, and IT professionals, there are lots of different niches for your special skills. Some of the more advanced positions will require training and maybe a degree or two, but the opportunity to be something more than an hourly cashier is there. And if being an hourly cashier is what you want, all you need to have is a reputation for dependability and keeping your chill.
The one overarching quality that all employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles need is patience. Yep, you don't even need a fancy degree or a power suit with matching briefcase. Intense, unshakeable patience in the face of overwhelming personalities is the primary skill here.
Day in and day out, you'll deal with every person from every conceivable walk of life. Whether astronaut, astrologer, or the guy who installs Astroturf, anyone who wants to own and operate a motor vehicle is required by law to register and have a license.
There's only one place to get that licensing done, and it's the one place everyone hopes they never have to go to. Most people think the DMV is about as much fun as schlepping through Mordor, and they won't hesitate to tell you that. Lucky you.
We don't want to split hairs with you or make you feel like we're leading you on, so here's the truth: many people who work at the DMV do not look at it as a lifelong gig. They use it for the experience and training that will help them get other jobs, or for the benefits they receive for working a government position while they work towards something else.
Still, some people do find that the Department of Motor Vehicles can be a long-term opportunity. And there's one other benefit: you'll probably never have to wait in line.