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The differences between auto transport drivers and driver/owner operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an auto transport driver and a driver/owner operator. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, which is higher than the $51,450 average annual salary of an auto transport driver.
The top three skills for an auto transport driver include transport vehicles, CDL and customer service. The most important skills for a driver/owner operator are CDL, DOT, and OTR.
Auto transport drivers and driver/owner operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Auto Transport Driver | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average salary | $51,450 | $169,793 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $73,000 | Between $69,000 And $417,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Savannah, GA |
| Highest paying state | - | Texas |
| Best paying company | - | Clean Harbors |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between an auto transport driver and a driver/owner operator in terms of educational background:
| Auto Transport Driver | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between auto transport drivers' and driver/owner operators' demographics:
| Auto Transport Driver | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |