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The differences between driving instructors and field instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a driving instructor and a field instructor. Additionally, a field instructor has an average salary of $52,928, which is higher than the $51,752 average annual salary of a driving instructor.
The top three skills for a driving instructor include CDL, DMV and motor vehicle. The most important skills for a field instructor are social work, field training, and CPR.
| Driving Instructor | Field Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $51,752 | $52,928 |
| Hourly rate | $24.88 | $25.45 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 28,948 | 69,156 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Driving instructors are hired by new drivers who are learning how to improve their skills in driving. Their duties are to supervise theory class timings, inform student drivers with safety driving procedures, and teach the students about the correct traffic rules. Most of these instructors must have several characteristics to help the new driving students understand driving to let their students practically operate vehicles. The working hours of driving instructors must be flexible to suit the needs of the students. They may need to work during the weekends and sometimes during the evening.
A field instructor supervises students and makes arrangements for their employability after. They help students prepare in their respective field by designing a consistent and progressive map of responsibility, from simple to more complex ones, which enable them to gradually cope and have a smooth transition while ensuring their health and safety. Field instructors should prepare themselves to be the role model of competence for their students.
Driving instructors and field instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driving Instructor | Field Instructor | |
| Average salary | $51,752 | $52,928 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $79,000 | Between $27,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | The University System of Maryland Foundation | Oak Grove Tech |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Education |
There are a few differences between a driving instructor and a field instructor in terms of educational background:
| Driving Instructor | Field Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Social Work |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between driving instructors' and field instructors' demographics:
| Driving Instructor | Field Instructor | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7% | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 6.0% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |