SalaryByCity

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers vs Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: 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

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

$51,000

Median annual salary

424,040 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers professionals earn $6,440 more per year than Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers professionals — that's 12.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earns $78,800 compared to $75,850 for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers.

Salary Range Comparison

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$38,640 – $78,800
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$38,130 – $75,850
$38,130$78,800

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersDifference
10th Percentile$38,640$38,130+$510
25th Percentile$47,230$45,580+$1,650
Median (50th)$57,440$51,000+$6,440
75th Percentile$65,520$61,610+$3,910
90th Percentile$78,800$75,850+$2,950
Mean (Average)$58,400$55,100+$3,300

Employment Numbers

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

2,070,480

employed nationwide

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

424,040

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 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

CityMedian
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$69,120
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$67,560
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$64,510
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$63,890
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$62,800

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers or Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $6,440 (12.6% 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 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers?
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salaries range from $38,130 (10th percentile) to $75,850 (90th percentile), with a median of $51,000.
How many Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers jobs are there?
There are approximately 2,070,480 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers positions and 424,040 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 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 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers earns $51,000. 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