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The differences between owner/operators and 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 an owner/operator and a truck driver. Additionally, an owner/operator has an average salary of $167,288, which is higher than the $60,326 average annual salary of a truck driver.
The top three skills for an owner/operator include CDL, PET and customer service. The most important skills for a truck driver are CDL, OTR, and DOT.
| Owner/Operator | Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $167,288 | $60,326 |
| Hourly rate | $80.43 | $29.00 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 119,599 | 827,858 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| 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.
The truck driver transports goods and materials by land from and to manufacturing factories or retail businesses and distribution centers with the use of heavy trucks or tractor-trailers. Truck drivers assist and supervise the safe unloading of cargos to the destination. They must always check their cargo if complete and secured with cables, rope, or other materials. They should keep their truck clean, neat, and inspect prior the trip and ensure to be in good working condition to operate safely. It is very important that they follow with all appropriate safety procedures and comply with federal and state regulations. They must also be knowledgable and comfortable in using maps or GPS to navigate the safest and most efficient routes.
Owner/operators and truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Owner/Operator | Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $167,288 | $60,326 |
| Salary range | Between $105,000 And $264,000 | Between $40,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgeport, CT | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Reddy Ice | W. R. Grace & Co |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between an owner/operator and a truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Owner/Operator | Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between owner/operators' and truck drivers' demographics:
| Owner/Operator | Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.8% Female, 33.2% | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |