Taxi and minicab drivers came third in an October 2026 ranking of the UK jobs customers say they thank. Delivery insurer Street Cover placed shop and checkout staff first and waiting staff second. The figures come from forum posts, not a national poll. Most thanked UK jobs
The count
The exercise used nearly 1,400 posts across 11 UK forum threads in which people discussed the workers they thank. Each post was sorted by the job named, and each person was counted once for each job. The rank is how many of those forum users named the job. The results reflect internet users, not a nationwide poll.
Around one in four named a taxi or minicab driver, usually with a quick word at the end of the trip. About two in three named shop and checkout staff. Nearly four in ten named waiting staff. Hairdressers and barbers came fourth, on nearly one in four. Delivery drivers came fifth, on about one in five. Pay for the top 10 jobs was set against official UK statistics and the legal minimum wage.
Pay
Typical full-time pay for employed taxi and minicab drivers was about £27,000 a year, roughly 30% below the typical UK full-time salary. The hourly rate was £13.11, 90p above the legal minimum used in the report. Official pay figures cover employees only. Drivers working through apps such as Uber are not included.
Recognition and tips
Al Taylor, head of Street Cover, said: "People appreciate the workers who keep everyday life moving, from delivery drivers bringing essentials to doors to taxi drivers getting people safely to their destinations. Recognition from customers matters, but it's equally important to recognise the practical and financial pressures these workers face. For people on wages close to the legal minimum, a tip is one small way that appreciation turns into something tangible. Customers often wonder where a tip ends up, and a Which? survey found that 31% of restaurant tippers weren't sure who received it. Since October 2024, UK employers have had to pass tips on to staff, with no deductions other than tax and National Insurance. That includes card tips and service charges, so a tip left on the bill goes to the workers, not the business."