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The average salary for a tow driver in the United States is approximately $36,172 annually, or about $17 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, state, and specific job responsibilities. For example, entry-level tow drivers may start at lower pay, while those with several years of experience can command higher wages.
In addition to experience, location plays a crucial role in salary potential. Tow drivers in metropolitan areas often earn more due to the higher demand for roadside assistance. Moreover, drivers who operate specialized vehicles or work in hazardous conditions may see increased earnings. Understanding these nuances can help aspiring drivers make informed career decisions.
For those looking to increase their income, pursuing certifications or gaining experience in related fields can open doors to higher-paying positions. Additionally, some states offer better pay scales for tow drivers, making it essential to research local job markets.
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The highest-paying states for tow drivers are Alaska, Washington, and New York. The lowest average tow driver salary states are Virginia, Louisiana, and Indiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $56,176 | $27.01 |
| 2 | New York | $50,074 | $24.07 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $40,081 | $19.27 |
| 4 | Montana | $47,119 | $22.65 |
| 5 | Vermont | $44,976 | $21.62 |
| 6 | Alaska | $60,652 | $29.16 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $45,928 | $22.08 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $49,403 | $23.75 |
| 9 | Delaware | $39,493 | $18.99 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $45,672 | $21.96 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $39,914 | $19.19 |
| 12 | California | $44,395 | $21.34 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| 14 | Utah | $38,665 | $18.59 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $39,592 | $19.03 |
| 16 | Nevada | $40,377 | $19.41 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $43,610 | $20.97 |
| 18 | Colorado | $39,515 | $19.00 |
| 19 | Michigan | $36,798 | $17.69 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $41,477 | $19.94 |
| 21 | Maine | $39,545 | $19.01 |
| 22 | Iowa | $35,008 | $16.83 |
| 23 | Oregon | $39,828 | $19.15 |
| 24 | Illinois | $36,145 | $17.38 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $48,252 | $23.20 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $39,024 | $18.76 |
| 27 | Kansas | $34,689 | $16.68 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $33,544 | $16.13 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $34,769 | $16.72 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $32,316 | $15.54 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $36,546 | $17.57 |
| 32 | Ohio | $32,715 | $15.73 |
| 33 | Idaho | $36,682 | $17.64 |
| 34 | Arizona | $35,419 | $17.03 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $32,421 | $15.59 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $30,123 | $14.48 |
| 37 | Maryland | $35,326 | $16.98 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $39,195 | $18.84 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $33,893 | $16.29 |
| 40 | Georgia | $30,923 | $14.87 |
| 41 | Texas | $31,792 | $15.28 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| 43 | Indiana | $28,707 | $13.80 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $33,260 | $15.99 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $31,553 | $15.17 |
| 46 | Alabama | $28,693 | $13.79 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| 48 | Virginia | $29,229 | $14.05 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $28,802 | $13.85 |
| 50 | Missouri | $28,316 | $13.61 |
| 51 | Florida | $25,897 | $12.45 |
The highest-paying cities for tow drivers are San Rafael, CA, Newington, CT, and Sparks, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Rafael, CA | $46,436 | $22.32 |
| 2 | Newington, CT | $41,827 | $20.11 |
| 3 | Sparks, NV | $41,450 | $19.93 |
| 4 | Brighton, CO | $39,575 | $19.03 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $39,012 | $18.76 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $36,307 | $17.46 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $35,620 | $17.13 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| 9 | Olathe, KS | $34,700 | $16.68 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $33,903 | $16.30 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $33,689 | $16.20 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $32,239 | $15.50 |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | $31,876 | $15.32 |
| 14 | Marietta, GA | $31,465 | $15.13 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $30,952 | $14.88 |
| 16 | Richmond, VA | $29,066 | $13.97 |
| 17 | Gulfport, MS | $29,015 | $13.95 |
| 18 | Richmond, IN | $28,615 | $13.76 |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | $28,360 | $13.63 |
| 20 | Hazelwood, MO | $28,329 | $13.62 |
A tow driver's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $51,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $36,172 | $3,014 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of tow drivers are commercial truck driver, truck driver class a, and haul truck driver.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Truck Driver | $48,577 | $4,048 | $23.35 | 739,437 |
| Commercial Truck Driver | $64,512 | $5,376 | $31.02 | 719,069 |
| Truck Driver Class A | $63,270 | $5,272 | $30.42 | 709,900 |
| Line Haul Driver | $53,992 | $4,499 | $25.96 | 871,646 |
| Driver/Mover | $32,318 | $2,693 | $15.54 | 929,748 |
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | $58,498 | $4,875 | $28.12 | 690,787 |
Tow driver salaries at REEF Technology and AAA Systems are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tow driver salary at companies like AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah and AAA FACILITY SERVICES are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | REEF Technology | $40,776 | $19.60 |
| 2 | AAA Systems | $37,766 | $18.16 |
| 3 | AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah | $37,451 | $18.01 |
| 4 | AAA FACILITY SERVICES | $36,579 | $17.59 |
| 5 | AAA Northeast | $36,451 | $17.52 |
| 6 | Reef | $35,376 | $17.01 |
| 7 | Aramark | $32,962 | $15.85 |
| 8 | AAA AUTO | $31,544 | $15.17 |
| 9 | Auto Club Speedway | $31,401 | $15.10 |
The average tow driver salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $42,307 | $20.34 |
| 2 | Transportation | $40,574 | $19.51 |
| 3 | Insurance | $37,453 | $18.01 |
| 4 | Automotive | $36,128 | $17.37 |
The average tow driver salary has risen by $7,061 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tow driver earned $29,111 annually, but today, they earn $36,172 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for tow drivers over the last decade.
Compare tow driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare tow driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,200 | $17.39 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $34,700 | $16.70 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $33,500 | $16.12 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $32,600 | $15.67 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $31,700 | $15.25 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaa Ncnu | Tow/Light Service Driver | Reno, NV | 06/13/2025 | $73,045 |
| Aaa Ncnu | Tow/Light Service Driver | Fairfield, CA | 06/11/2025 | $49,566 |
| Aaa Ncnu | Tow/Light Service Driver | Fairfield, CA | 04/28/2025 | $49,566 |
| LKQ Corporation | Tow Driver | Anaheim, CA | 04/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aaa Ncnu | Tow/Light Service Driver | Fairfield, CA | 03/28/2025 | $49,566 |
| Aaa Ncnu | Tow/Light Service Driver | Fairfield, CA | 02/25/2025 | $49,566 |
| Roadrunner Services | Rollback Tow Driver | West Palm Beach, FL | 02/23/2025 | $40,697 |
| Autoboro, Inc. | Tow Truce Driver | Los Angeles, CA | 02/18/2025 | $45,000 |
| Rush Enterprises Inc. | Tow Driver | Indianapolis, IN | 02/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| Upullrparts | Tow Driver | East Bethel, MN | 02/16/2025 | $37,566 |
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