How Much Can an OTR Driver Earn in a Year?
Truck driving is one of the biggest career fields in the United States, employing more than 3.2 million people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010-11. Long-haul drivers have the greatest job opportunities in the field.
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Considerations
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According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from 2008, the median hourly pay rate of tractor-trailer drivers was $17.92. However, long-haul, or over-the-road (OTR), drivers often are paid by the mile, not the hour, and frequently earn bonuses and overtime.
Comparison
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According to the October 2010 job listings statistics from Indeed, OTR drivers earned an average yearly salary of $54,000, which is 20 percent lower than all other job postings.
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Benefits
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Drivers can earn more with more experience, seniority with the company they drive for and for driving bigger rigs. Some drivers even earn a share of the revenue of what they ship.
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References
- Photo Credit dump truck image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com