Career Paths From Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Light Truck DriversLateral Move92% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Light Truck Drivers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Light Truck Drivers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 23% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$44,860
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and HostlersLateral Move90.8% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$60,600
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsCareer Change93.3% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$59,850
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pile Driver OperatorsCareer Change91.9% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Pile Driver Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Pile Driver Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 25% higher.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$73,300
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crane and Tower OperatorsAdvancement90.7% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Crane and Tower Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Crane and Tower Operators is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$68,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersCareer Change94% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$49,880
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsCareer Change90.5% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 19% higher.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsCareer Change92.6% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Power Plant Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 74% higher.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Automotive Body and Related RepairersCareer Change90.6% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Automotive Body and Related Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Automotive Body and Related Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 6% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$54,890
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Logging Equipment OperatorsCareer Change94.1% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Logging Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Logging Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$49,740
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Agricultural Equipment OperatorsCareer Change90.5% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Agricultural Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Agricultural Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$41,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersCareer Change93.5% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 7% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$54,430
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasCareer Change90.9% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$58,160
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersCareer Change90.9% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 21% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersCareer Change91% skill match
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 17% lower.
Current median salary
$58,640
Target median salary
$48,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.