National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Truck Drivers earn a national median of $54,320/year vs Dentists at $175,500/year. Dentists earn 223% more nationally. The gap is $121,180 per year — or $10,098 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Truck Driver
$54,320
national median/year
$4,527/mo • $26/hr
VS
Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
Annual salary gap
$121,180
Dentists earn 223% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,373,611.
Best states for Dentists
vs Truck Drivers
Hawaii+$140,000
California+$136,000
Massachusetts+$132,000
New York+$132,000
Washington+$132,000
Best states for Truck Drivers
vs Dentists
Mississippi+$-88,000
Arkansas+$-90,000
West Virginia+$-92,000
Oklahoma+$-96,000
Kentucky+$-98,000
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Truck Drivers is $54,320 versus $175,500 for Dentists — a difference of $121,180 per year or $10,098 per month.
The national median salary gap between Truck Drivers and Dentists is $121,180 per year. Dentists earn 223% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,373,611.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Truck Drivers the highest median salary at $62,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dentists the highest median salary at $198,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Dentists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Dentists, General both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Truck Drivers earn approximately $26 per hour nationally and Dentists earn approximately $84 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
