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The differences between owner/managers and driver/owner operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an owner/manager, becoming a driver/owner operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, which is higher than the $75,822 average annual salary of an owner/manager.
The top three skills for an owner/manager include financial statements, inventory control and customer service. The most important skills for a driver/owner operator are CDL, DOT, and OTR.
| Owner/Manager | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $75,822 | $169,793 |
| Hourly rate | $36.45 | $81.63 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 303,790 | 170,784 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Owners/managers are responsible for establishing a business and managing the operations once the business is running. They plan and make sure that the company has adequate financing. They also handle the initial marketing to get customers. Owners/mangers handle human resources activities, such as hiring and training employees. Once the business has launched, they start delegating activities to other employees and may also start assigning leaders to different departments. However, they still oversee the whole operation. Owners/managers are the top decision-makers and ensure that business strategies align with the goals.
Driver/owner-operators are self-employed commercial truck drivers who operate trucks to transport goods for their customers. Most of these operators started working as drivers for trucking companies to gain experience and decide if it's the right career path for them. They are allowed to haul freelance or agree to a lease agreement dedicating their equipment to one product or customer. To become an owner-operator, one should consider many things, including business set-up, vehicle type, and licenses.
Owner/managers and driver/owner operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Owner/Manager | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average salary | $75,822 | $169,793 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $129,000 | 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 owner/manager and a driver/owner operator in terms of educational background:
| Owner/Manager | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between owner/managers' and driver/owner operators' demographics:
| Owner/Manager | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 10% | 4% |