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The differences between truck drivers and electricians 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, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, which is higher than the $48,850 average annual salary of an electrician.
The top three skills for a truck driver include CDL, OTR and DOT. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Truck Driver | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $60,326 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $29.00 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 827,858 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
Truck drivers and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $60,326 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $90,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Alaska |
| Best paying company | W. R. Grace & Co | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a truck driver and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck drivers' and electricians' demographics:
| Truck Driver | Electrician | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 3% |