Truck driver helper vs heavy equipment operator

The differences between truck driver helpers and heavy equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a truck driver helper, becoming a heavy equipment operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a heavy equipment operator has an average salary of $39,822, which is higher than the $32,483 average annual salary of a truck driver helper.

The top three skills for a truck driver helper include safety policies, CDL and DOT. The most important skills for a heavy equipment operator are loaders, backhoe, and CDL.

Truck driver helper vs heavy equipment operator overview

	Truck Driver Helper	Heavy Equipment Operator
Yearly salary	$32,483	$39,822
Hourly rate	$15.62	$19.15
Growth rate	4%	5%
Number of jobs	836,561	47,261
Job satisfaction	5	4.6
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 62%	High School Diploma, 54%
Average age	48	45
Years of experience	2	4

Truck driver helper vs heavy equipment operator salary

Truck driver helpers and heavy equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Truck Driver Helper	Heavy Equipment Operator
Average salary	$32,483	$39,822
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $46,000	Between $27,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	Bensalem, PA	Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Waste Connections	Moody's
Best paying industry	Retail	Energy

Differences between truck driver helper and heavy equipment operator education

There are a few differences between a truck driver helper and a heavy equipment operator in terms of educational background:

	Truck Driver Helper	Heavy Equipment Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 62%	High School Diploma, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Truck driver helper vs heavy equipment operator demographics

Here are the differences between truck driver helpers' and heavy equipment operators' demographics:

	Truck Driver Helper	Heavy Equipment Operator
Average age	48	45
Gender ratio	Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2%	Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 24.0% Asian, 3.4% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 0.9% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
LGBT Percentage	4%	2%

Differences between truck driver helper and heavy equipment operator duties and responsibilities

Truck driver helper example responsibilities.

Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
Follow GPS directives and maintain in constant communication with dispatch when necessary.
Sort packages by region, deliver packages to customers, handle cash-on-delivery payments, process business pickups, utilize DIAD board technology

Heavy equipment operator example responsibilities.

Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
Operate trucks and equipment such as backhoe, dump trucks, front-end loader, hydraulic excavator, skid steers and bulldozers.
Operate heavy equipment including, but limit to, backhoe, excavators, bobcats, forklifts, trucks and wheel loaders.
Operate equipment used for construction purposes such as tankers, cranes, bulldozers, loaders, compost mixers and excavators.
Put down mulch cut grass, plant and dig up.
Work with asphalt, cut down trees, and dig trenches.

Truck driver helper vs heavy equipment operator skills

Common truck driver helper skills

Safety Policies, 25%
CDL, 20%
DOT, 13%
Load Trucks, 8%
Safety Regulations, 7%
Safety Rules, 7%

Common heavy equipment operator skills

Loaders, 9%
Backhoe, 6%
CDL, 6%
Asphalt, 5%
Safety Regulations, 5%
Dump Truck, 5%

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Truck Driver Helper
Truck Driver Helper vs Heavy Equipment Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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