Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between tractor-trailer drivers and tractor trailer mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a tractor-trailer driver and a tractor trailer mechanic. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, which is higher than the $47,816 average annual salary of a tractor trailer mechanic.
The top three skills for a tractor-trailer driver include DOT, CDL and OTR. The most important skills for a tractor trailer mechanic are DOT, hand tools, and troubleshoot.
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Tractor Trailer Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $58,498 | $47,816 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $22.99 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 690,787 | 86,895 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Tractor-trailer drivers and tractor trailer mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Tractor Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $58,498 | $47,816 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $84,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlanta, GA | Springfield, MA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | California |
| Best paying company | Exel Inc. | XPO Logistics |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tractor-trailer driver and a tractor trailer mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Tractor Trailer Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tractor-trailer drivers' and tractor trailer mechanics' demographics:
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Tractor Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 2.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |