| Truck driving jobs are always plentiful due to the | | | | 24. Database administrators $67,460 |
| constant driver turn over rate that now stands at | | | | 23. Computer system's analysts $72,230 |
| 128% for over the road drivers. The average yearly | | | | 22. Dental assistants $30,850 |
| income for truck drivers is $35,000 to $45,000 for | | | | 21. Marriage and family therapists $44,700 |
| company drivers, and $95,000 to $130,000 for owner | | | | 20. Mental health and substance abuse social workers |
| operators, depending on where you live. Currently, as a | | | | $37,980 |
| local driver, working five days per week and home | | | | 19. Mental health counselors $37,840 |
| every night, I enjoy a driving job grossing $50,200 per | | | | 18. Dental hygienists $62,430 |
| year. | | | | 17. Forensic science technicians $48,150 |
| Every two years the US Bureau of Labor Statistics | | | | 16. Pharmacy technicians $26,510 |
| releases their list for the top 30 fastest growing job | | | | 15. Physical therapist assistants $41,410 |
| opportunities. Just released, this list shows the best | | | | 14. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming |
| career choices projected to the year 2016. Truck | | | | investigators $30,470 |
| driving didn't make the list, but how does truck driving | | | | 13. Social and human service assistants $27,200 |
| jobs salaries compare with these 30 fastest growing | | | | 12. Financial analysts $77,280 |
| jobs for the future? | | | | 11. Skin care specialists $29,550 |
| Many of these positions require at least a Bachelor | | | | 10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder |
| Degree, and some even a Master's Degree or | | | | counselors $35,950 |
| Doctorate, yet I find it interesting to note that | | | | 9. Veterinarians $81,490 |
| professional truck drivers can earn more than these | | | | 8. Medical assistants $26,290 |
| professional positions. And, with proper management | | | | 7. Theatrical and performance makeup artists $36,730 |
| skills, an owner-operator can actually gross more than | | | | 6. Personal financial advisers $66,120 |
| any of the top 30 on the list! | | | | 5. Veterinary technologists and technicians $27,750 |
| Of course, there is not much glamour in OTR driving, | | | | 4. Computer applications software engineers $82,000 |
| but with the public's view of the typical "truck driver," I | | | | 3. Home health aides $20,100 |
| felt it was important to point out that with the right | | | | 2. Personal and home care aides $18,180 |
| information, the professional skills and the proper | | | | 1. Network systems and data communications analyst |
| attitude, truck driving jobs can offer a good wage and | | | | $67,460 |
| decent living . . . you just have to know where to look. | | | | The biggest problem facing truck drivers today is |
| However, comparing truck driving jobs with the top 30 | | | | finding the right company to drive for, who will deliver |
| lists, one should not consider themselves just a "truck | | | | what they promise. Unfortunately, over the road driving |
| driver." | | | | needs to be looked at very diligently by new drivers |
| See how your current driving job compares with the | | | | before signing on with a carrier. The 128% turn over |
| top 30 jobs of the future . . . the salary shown is the | | | | rate speaks for itself. Knowing what to look for, |
| median average salary for the year 2006 : | | | | understanding how the trucking industry works and |
| 30. Physician assistant $74,980 | | | | thinks and knowing what to expect out of a life in |
| 29. Physical therapist $68,050 | | | | trucking, will help you make the right choice in a trucking |
| 28. Manicurists and pedicurist $21,280 | | | | career BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. |
| 27. Environmental science and protection technician | | | | With the right information, you can make trucking work |
| $40,260 | | | | if that is your chosen path for a career. And, as the list |
| 26. Gaming and sports book writers and runners | | | | shows, you can actually end up earning more than the |
| $20,850 | | | | person sitting in a cubicle office space munching on a |
| 25. Computer software and systems software | | | | salad. |
| engineers $87,250 | | | | |