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The differences between truck operators and diesel truck 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 truck operator and a diesel truck driver. Additionally, a diesel truck driver has an average salary of $43,702, which is higher than the $39,608 average annual salary of a truck operator.
The top three skills for a truck operator include CDL, industrial cleaning and customer service. The most important skills for a diesel truck driver are CDL, cranes, and OTR.
| Truck Operator | Diesel Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $39,608 | $43,702 |
| Hourly rate | $19.04 | $21.01 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 667,980 | 684,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Truck operators and diesel truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Operator | Diesel Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $39,608 | $43,702 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $32,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Mars | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a truck operator and a diesel truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Operator | Diesel Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck operators' and diesel truck drivers' demographics:
| Truck Operator | Diesel Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 99.6% Female, 0.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.9% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |