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The differences between owner/operators and entrepreneurs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an owner/operator, becoming an entrepreneur takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an owner/operator has an average salary of $167,288, which is higher than the $70,849 average annual salary of an entrepreneur.
The top three skills for an owner/operator include CDL, PET and customer service. The most important skills for an entrepreneur are kids, web design, and product development.
| Owner/Operator | Entrepreneur | |
| Yearly salary | $167,288 | $70,849 |
| Hourly rate | $80.43 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 119,599 | 34,711 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Owners/operators manage the business in all aspects, especially in those related to operations. They ensure that every aspect of the business is running smoothly. They oversee finance, marketing, logistics, sales, and even the human resources of the whole organization. They set business goals, create action plans to achieve them, and make sure that the plans are followed through. They set strategic direction and make business decisions that would be the most beneficial to the organization. They ensure that the business has enough funds to continue operating and that the quality of the products and services they offer continuously improve.
An entrepreneur is a business owner who regularly creates new ventures and sells them with the end goal of turning them into profit. To start up a new business, entrepreneurs must create business plans and acquire resources and financing while hiring talented individuals. They play a vital role in the economy because they are the driver of economic growth and innovation. They also make use of their business as a means of creating a sustainable living, which improves the quality of life.
Owner/operators and entrepreneurs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Owner/Operator | Entrepreneur | |
| Average salary | $167,288 | $70,849 |
| Salary range | Between $105,000 And $264,000 | Between $42,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgeport, CT | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | New York |
| Best paying company | Reddy Ice | General Catalyst |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between an owner/operator and an entrepreneur in terms of educational background:
| Owner/Operator | Entrepreneur | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between owner/operators' and entrepreneurs' demographics:
| Owner/Operator | Entrepreneur | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.8% Female, 33.2% | Male, 58.5% Female, 41.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |