Career comparison
Deckhand vs. Truck Driver
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Truck drivers earn more at the median ($58,640 vs. $51,520), while deckhands usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Deckhands work aboard tugboats, barges, ferries and ships handling lines, cargo and maintenance. Truck drivers haul freight safely across town or across the country with a CDL.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Deckhand | Truck Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $51,520 ($24.77/hr) | $58,640 ($28.19/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,560 – $83,620 | $40,140 – $79,380 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.2% (about as fast as average) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,600 | 214,500 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks | 3–7 weeks |
| Key credential | Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) | CDL Class A |
| Work setting | Deckhands work on vessels in all weather, on slippery decks, around heavy lines and machinery and far from shore. | Drivers spend most of the day in the truck cab, sometimes loading or unloading at docks. |
What each job does
Deckhand
- Handle mooring lines and tie up vessels
- Build and break barge tows
- Stand lookout and security watches
- Load, secure and check cargo
- Clean, chip and paint the vessel
Truck Driver
- Inspect trucks and trailers before and after trips
- Plan routes considering weight, height, traffic and weather
- Drive safely while following traffic laws and federal regulations
- Record hours of service with an electronic logging device (ELD)
- Secure cargo and verify loads against shipping documents
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors and travel. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose deckhand if…
- I love being on the water
- I can be away for weeks at a time
- I like hard physical work
Choose truck driver if…
- I like working independently
- I enjoy driving and don’t mind long hours on the road
- I want to start earning within a couple of months
Still torn? Take the Deckhand fit quiz and the Truck Driver fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, deckhand or truck driver?
Truck Drivers earn more at the median: $58,640 versus $51,520 for deckhands, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Deckhands typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than truck drivers (3–7 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects truck drivers to grow +3.8% from 2025–35, compared with +3.2% for deckhands.