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The differences between escort vehicle drivers and tow truck drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an escort vehicle driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a tow truck driver has an average salary of $38,555, which is higher than the $34,684 average annual salary of an escort vehicle driver.
The top three skills for an escort vehicle driver include motor vehicle, maintenance checks and CPR. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $34,684 | $38,555 |
| Hourly rate | $16.68 | $18.54 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 617,503 | 666,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Escort vehicle drivers drive ahead of big trucks to warn motorists and clear the traffic in the truck's way. They must communicate with drivers and inform them about changes of route, speed, or traffic congestion underway. Also, in aviation, the escort vehicle driver is needed in guiding planes along the runway. They also need a driver's license and excellent hand-eye coordination to quickly manage sudden turns.
Typically working upon the directives of dispatchers, a tow truck driver is in charge of driving to areas where a vehicle accident or breakdown took place, connecting the vehicle to the tow truck, and transporting them to repair stations or particular places. Their responsibilities include communicating with clients to identify their needs, answering inquiries, providing assistance by performing minor repairs, changing tires or jump-starting cars, and recommending solutions when necessary. Furthermore, as a tow truck driver, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks on towing trucks for a safe and efficient service.
Escort vehicle drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $34,684 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $51,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Middletown, NY | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Xoriant | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an escort vehicle driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between escort vehicle drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.5% Female, 20.5% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 3.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |