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The differences between trailer drivers and tractor-trailer drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a trailer driver and a tractor-trailer driver. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, which is higher than the $50,801 average annual salary of a trailer driver.
The top three skills for a trailer driver include CDL, DOT and OTR. The most important skills for a tractor-trailer driver are DOT, CDL, and OTR.
Trailer drivers and tractor-trailer drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Trailer Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average salary | $50,801 | $58,498 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $73,000 | Between $40,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Atlanta, GA |
| Highest paying state | - | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | - | Exel Inc. |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a trailer driver and a tractor-trailer driver in terms of educational background:
| Trailer Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between trailer drivers' and tractor-trailer drivers' demographics:
| Trailer Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |