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The differences between truck operators and 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 operator, becoming an equipment operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a truck operator has an average salary of $39,608, which is higher than the $31,739 average annual salary of an equipment operator.
The top three skills for a truck operator include CDL, industrial cleaning and customer service. The most important skills for an equipment operator are CDL, loaders, and asphalt.
| Truck Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,608 | $31,739 |
| Hourly rate | $19.04 | $15.26 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 667,980 | 62,473 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 48 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Truck Operators are individuals making a living by driving trucks and heavy goods vehicles such as articulated trucks, semi-trailers, and tankers. They are responsible for administering goods, loading and unloading into the truck, assessing the goods conditions, scheduling transport operations, arranging transport documentations, and inspecting vehicle conditions before starting work. Other duties include checking tires, fuel, oil filters, and oil levels. Truck Operators also supervise delivery operations, vehicle cleaning, tire maintenance, and refueling.
Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing. They use the equipment and ensure that safety standards are being followed. Aside from managing the equipment, they are also in charge of repairs and maintenance. They are responsible for ensuring that the machine works properly, troubleshooting if there are challenges encountered, and repairing any problems. Equipment operators are reliable, trustworthy, and attentive.
Truck operators and equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,608 | $31,739 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $24,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Indianapolis, IN |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Mars | Nelsen Partners |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a truck operator and an equipment operator in terms of educational background:
| Truck Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck operators' and equipment operators' demographics:
| Truck Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average age | 48 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 0.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |