SalaryByCity

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers vs Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

$57,440

Median annual salary

2,070,480 employed nationally

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

$100,590

Median annual salary

156,300 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists professionals earn $43,150 more per year than Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers professionals — that's 75.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earns $78,800 compared to $168,210 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists.

Salary Range Comparison

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$38,640 – $78,800
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$61,860 – $168,210
$38,640$168,210

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDifference
10th Percentile$38,640$61,860$-23,220
25th Percentile$47,230$77,260$-30,030
Median (50th)$57,440$100,590$-43,150
75th Percentile$65,520$133,870$-68,350
90th Percentile$78,800$168,210$-89,410
Mean (Average)$58,400$112,690$-54,290

Employment Numbers

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

2,070,480

employed nationwide

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

156,300

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$65,220

Best Cities for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$155,990
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$142,540
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$131,390
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$129,230
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$128,890

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $43,150 (75.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salaries range from $38,640 (10th percentile) to $78,800 (90th percentile), with a median of $57,440.
What is the salary range for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salaries range from $61,860 (10th percentile) to $168,210 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,590.
How many Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists jobs are there?
There are approximately 2,070,480 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers positions and 156,300 Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists to Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers has a median salary of $57,440 while Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earns $100,590. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS