Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between professional drivers and driver trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a professional driver and a driver trainer. Additionally, a professional driver has an average salary of $49,556, which is higher than the $46,074 average annual salary of a driver trainer.
The top three skills for a professional driver include safety regulations, vehicle inspections and CDL. The most important skills for a driver trainer are CDL, dexterity, and training programs.
| Professional Driver | Driver Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,556 | $46,074 |
| Hourly rate | $23.82 | $22.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,043,986 | 844,436 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A professional driver is responsible for offering driving services as a way of living. Professional drivers are often employed by a company or private household, transporting the employees and clients from one location to another with the utmost safety and comfortability. To be a professional driver, one must have a valid professional driver's license, as well as a clean driving record for efficient job completion. A professional driver should also have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on inspecting the vehicle's engine and conducting repairs as needed to avoid any delays in services.
Driver trainers are instructors who teach their clients how to drive. They are often considered experts in driving, and they are credible enough to impart their driving knowledge to clients. They teach their clients the basics of handling a car, the different actions one takes while driving, and the meaning of different street signs. They guide their clients during driving lessons and provide feedback so that their clients can improve. At times, driver trainers also handle driving tests and would rate the clients on their driving skills.
Professional drivers and driver trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Driver | Driver Trainer | |
| Average salary | $49,556 | $46,074 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $73,000 | Between $30,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | - | Oregon |
| Best paying company | - | J. J. Keller & Associates |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a professional driver and a driver trainer in terms of educational background:
| Professional Driver | Driver Trainer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between professional drivers' and driver trainers' demographics:
| Professional Driver | Driver Trainer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.2% Female, 20.8% | Male, 84.7% Female, 15.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |