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The differences between truck operators 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 operator, 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 $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 heavy equipment operator are loaders, backhoe, and CDL.
| Truck Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,608 | $39,822 |
| Hourly rate | $19.04 | $19.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 667,980 | 47,261 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.6 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| 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.
Heavy equipment operators are skilled workers who are trained to handle heavy equipment. They are usually in the construction industry. Some of the equipment they operate are forklifts, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, excavation machines, and mixer trucks. Heavy equipment operators are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of their equipment and are expected to be able to do basic repair and maintenance. They should also be able to recommend more complex repairs and maintenance work needed. Heavy equipment operators must adhere to health and safety protocols at all times.
Truck operators and heavy equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,608 | $39,822 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Mars | Moody's |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a truck operator and a heavy equipment operator in terms of educational background:
| Truck Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck operators' and heavy equipment operators' demographics:
| Truck Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Average age | 48 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% |
| 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, 7.0% 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% |