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The differences between owner/operators and over the road drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an owner/operator and an over the road driver. Additionally, an owner/operator has an average salary of $167,288, which is higher than the $62,119 average annual salary of an over the road driver.
The top three skills for an owner/operator include CDL, PET and customer service. The most important skills for an over the road driver are CDL, PET, and post-trip inspections.
| Owner/Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $167,288 | $62,119 |
| Hourly rate | $80.43 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 119,599 | 711,143 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Over the road, (OTR) drivers are the truckers driving the big semi-trailer truck that hauls all types of goods to their destinations across the states. Their journey typically begins with loading the freight onto the trailer, requiring them to lift heavy materials and load the cargo properly to avoid shifting while in transit. They often sleep in the sleeper berth at a truck stop to eat, freshen up and refuel. They are allowed to go on a 30-minute break after an eight-hour drive.
Owner/operators and over the road drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Owner/Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average salary | $167,288 | $62,119 |
| Salary range | Between $105,000 And $264,000 | Between $43,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgeport, CT | Camden, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Reddy Ice | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an owner/operator and an over the road driver in terms of educational background:
| Owner/Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between owner/operators' and over the road drivers' demographics:
| Owner/Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.8% Female, 33.2% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |