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Truck driver/warehouse vs heavy equipment operator

The differences between truck driver/warehouses 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/warehouse, 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 $34,127 average annual salary of a truck driver/warehouse.

The top three skills for a truck driver/warehouse include CDL, OTR and DOT. The most important skills for a heavy equipment operator are loaders, backhoe, and CDL.

Truck driver/warehouse vs heavy equipment operator overview

Truck Driver/WarehouseHeavy Equipment Operator
Yearly salary$34,127$39,822
Hourly rate$16.41$19.15
Growth rate4%5%
Number of jobs1,044,86147,261
Job satisfaction-4.6
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 54%High School Diploma, 54%
Average age4845
Years of experience24

Truck driver/warehouse vs heavy equipment operator salary

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

Truck Driver/WarehouseHeavy Equipment Operator
Average salary$34,127$39,822
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $42,000Between $27,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CityMinot, NDTrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew Jersey
Best paying companyGreen Mountain Coffee RoastersMoody's
Best paying industryFinanceEnergy

Differences between truck driver/warehouse and heavy equipment operator education

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

Truck Driver/WarehouseHeavy Equipment Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 54%High School Diploma, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Truck driver/warehouse vs heavy equipment operator demographics

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

Truck Driver/WarehouseHeavy Equipment Operator
Average age4845
Gender ratioMale, 96.2% Female, 3.8%Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.2% 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 Percentage4%2%

Differences between truck driver/warehouse and heavy equipment operator duties and responsibilities

Truck driver/warehouse example responsibilities.

  • Load truck with appropriate product and deliver accordingly, return to warehouse for receiving and other warehouse duties including monthly inventory.
  • Maintain open communication via CB radio for additional instructions.

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.
  • Show more

Truck driver/warehouse vs heavy equipment operator skills

Common truck driver/warehouse skills
  • CDL, 31%
  • OTR, 12%
  • DOT, 8%
  • Safety Regulations, 7%
  • Pallet Jack, 5%
  • Delivery Truck, 5%
Common heavy equipment operator skills
  • Loaders, 9%
  • Backhoe, 6%
  • CDL, 6%
  • Asphalt, 5%
  • Safety Regulations, 5%
  • Dump Truck, 5%

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