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The differences between diesel truck drivers and professional truck drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a diesel truck driver and a professional truck driver. Additionally, a professional truck driver has an average salary of $48,577, which is higher than the $43,702 average annual salary of a diesel truck driver.
The top three skills for a diesel truck driver include CDL, cranes and OTR. The most important skills for a professional truck driver are CDL, safety regulations, and on-time delivery.
| Diesel Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,702 | $48,577 |
| Hourly rate | $21.01 | $23.35 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 684,748 | 739,437 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Diesel truck drivers and professional truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,702 | $48,577 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $59,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | - | Wellpath |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a diesel truck driver and a professional truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel truck drivers' and professional truck drivers' demographics:
| Diesel Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 99.6% Female, 0.4% | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |