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Tow truck driver salary
Average tow truck driver salary
$38,555
Understanding Tow Truck Driver Salaries
The role of a tow truck driver is critical in the automotive industry, often requiring specific qualifications and training. As of October 2025, the average salary for a tow truck driver stands at $38,555 annually. However, this figure can differ based on several factors.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Location: Salaries often reflect regional demand and cost of living. For example, urban areas typically offer higher wages compared to rural settings.
- Experience Level: Entry-level drivers may earn less than those with several years of experience. Job roles that require specialized skills or certifications also tend to command higher salaries.
- Employment Type: Full-time positions may offer better benefits and salary than part-time or gig opportunities.
In addition to salary, many drivers enjoy benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, which can enhance overall compensation. Exploring job opportunities in various states can also reveal regions where pay is notably higher, allowing drivers to make strategic decisions about their careers.
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Where can a Tow Truck Driver earn more?
Tow truck driver salaries by experience level
Tow truck driver salary estimates from across the web
Average tow truck driver salary by state
The average tow truck driver salary in Washington, Alaska, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average tow truck driver salary states are Kansas, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for tow truck drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $46,274 | $22.25 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $40,669 | $19.55 |
| 3 | Washington | $52,947 | $25.46 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $40,166 | $19.31 |
| 5 | Vermont | $43,634 | $20.98 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $45,371 | $21.81 |
| 7 | California | $45,793 | $22.02 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $44,351 | $21.32 |
| 9 | Alaska | $49,698 | $23.89 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $42,037 | $20.21 |
| 11 | Oregon | $41,787 | $20.09 |
| 12 | Nevada | $41,813 | $20.10 |
| 13 | Montana | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| 14 | Utah | $40,248 | $19.35 |
| 15 | Idaho | $37,817 | $18.18 |
| 16 | Indiana | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $35,609 | $17.12 |
| 18 | Illinois | $36,818 | $17.70 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $38,382 | $18.45 |
| 20 | New York | $40,759 | $19.60 |
| 21 | Iowa | $36,437 | $17.52 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $37,778 | $18.16 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $41,281 | $19.85 |
| 24 | Ohio | $34,761 | $16.71 |
| 25 | Texas | $37,365 | $17.96 |
| 26 | Delaware | $36,848 | $17.72 |
| 27 | Colorado | $39,555 | $19.02 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| 29 | Michigan | $35,532 | $17.08 |
| 30 | Missouri | $36,828 | $17.71 |
| 31 | Georgia | $35,995 | $17.31 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $44,688 | $21.48 |
| 33 | Maine | $37,006 | $17.79 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $39,733 | $19.10 |
| 35 | Arizona | $37,742 | $18.15 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $32,934 | $15.83 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $32,897 | $15.82 |
| 38 | Maryland | $36,646 | $17.62 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $33,123 | $15.92 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $33,644 | $16.18 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $36,758 | $17.67 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $34,208 | $16.45 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $31,732 | $15.26 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| 45 | Virginia | $34,803 | $16.73 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $30,898 | $14.85 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $32,281 | $15.52 |
| 48 | Kansas | $32,272 | $15.52 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,147 | $13.05 |
| 50 | Alabama | $30,323 | $14.58 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,888 | $14.85 |
Highest paying cities for tow truck drivers
The highest-paying cities for tow truck drivers are Auburn, WA, Oakland, CA, and Saint Paul, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn, WA | $53,068 | $25.51 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $47,219 | $22.70 |
| 3 | Saint Paul, MN | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,758 | $21.52 |
| 5 | Merrimack, NH | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $43,071 | $20.71 |
| 7 | Medford, MA | $41,287 | $19.85 |
| 8 | Billings, MT | $40,959 | $19.69 |
| 9 | Laramie, WY | $40,159 | $19.31 |
| 10 | Belleville, NJ | $40,037 | $19.25 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $39,554 | $19.02 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,821 | $18.18 |
| 13 | Lincoln, NE | $37,679 | $18.11 |
| 14 | Leander, TX | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| 15 | Newington, CT | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 16 | Woodlawn, MD | $36,715 | $17.65 |
| 17 | Springfield, MO | $36,431 | $17.51 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $36,051 | $17.33 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $35,660 | $17.14 |
| 20 | Champaign, IL | $35,591 | $17.11 |
Tow truck driver salary details
A tow truck driver's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a tow truck driver's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $38,555 | $3,213 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying tow truck driver jobs
The highest paying types of tow truck drivers are truck driver-over-the-road, commercial truck driver, and truck driver class a.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Driver | $63,112 | $5,259 | $30.34 | 784,044 |
| Van Driver | $36,254 | $3,021 | $17.43 | 791,293 |
| Driver | $34,771 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 1,017,998 |
| Mixer Driver | $52,004 | $4,334 | $25.00 | 990,295 |
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | $69,158 | $5,763 | $33.25 | 689,630 |
| Commercial Driver | $46,852 | $3,904 | $22.53 | 1,016,123 |
Top companies hiring tow truck drivers now:
Which companies pay tow truck drivers the most?
Tow truck driver salaries at City of Detroit and T N T Auto Co are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tow truck driver salary at companies like Elite Service and EntwistleCo are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Detroit | $43,974 | $21.14 |
| 2 | T N T Auto Co | $42,194 | $20.29 |
| 3 | Elite Service | $42,194 | $20.29 |
| 4 | EntwistleCo | $42,178 | $20.28 |
| 5 | Small Business Services | $42,027 | $20.21 |
| 6 | Norwalk Auto Auction | $41,895 | $20.14 |
| 7 | Rite Way Service | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| 8 | United Road Towing | $40,333 | $19.39 |
| 9 | AAA Systems | $40,273 | $19.36 |
| 10 | Sellars | $40,138 | $19.30 |
| 11 | Watson Windows | $39,796 | $19.13 |
| 12 | AAA Northeast | $39,523 | $19.00 |
| 13 | Buckhorn | $39,145 | $18.82 |
| 14 | TRU TECH Systems | $39,057 | $18.78 |
| 15 | AAA FACILITY SERVICES | $38,801 | $18.65 |
| 16 | Stuart Dean | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| 17 | Sun Devil Fire | $37,082 | $17.83 |
| 18 | AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah | $36,848 | $17.72 |
| 19 | AAA AUTO | $36,144 | $17.38 |
| 20 | North Central Group | $35,590 | $17.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Tow Truck Driver salary by industry
The average tow truck driver salary varies across industries:
- The average tow truck driver salary in the transportation industry is $39,670, the highest of any industry.
- The average tow truck driver salary in the finance industry is $38,270.
- Tow truck drivers in the retail industry earn an average salary of $36,098, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for tow truck drivers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| 2 | Automotive | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| 3 | Government | $37,461 | $18.01 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $37,421 | $17.99 |
| 5 | Insurance | $37,375 | $17.97 |
| 6 | Retail | $36,098 | $17.35 |
High paying tow truck driver jobs
Tow truck driver salary trends
The average tow truck driver salary has risen by $7,526 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tow truck driver earned $31,029 annually, but today, they earn $38,555 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for tow truck drivers over the last decade.
Compare tow truck driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average tow truck driver salary over time
Compare tow truck driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Tow truck driver salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,600 | $18.54 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $37,000 | $17.80 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $35,700 | $17.18 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $34,800 | $16.71 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $33,800 | $16.26 | +2.6% |
Recently added tow truck driver salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diehl Collision of Ford City | Tow Truck Driver | Ford City, PA | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Hall Automotive Group | Tow Truck Driver-Mercedes Benz Annapolis | Annapolis, MD | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Sun Auto Tire and Service | Tow Truck Driver | Chandler, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Stepp's Towing | Tow Truck Driver-Tampa-Night Shift | Tampa, FL | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| LKQ | Tow Truck Driver | Monrovia, CA | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aaa Ncnu | Tow Truck Driver | Hayward, CA | 06/21/2025 | $73,045 |
| Interlink Recovery Services | Repo Agent/Tow Truck Driver | Akron, OH | 06/12/2025 | $40,000 |
| Interlink Recovery Services | Repo Agent/Tow Truck Driver | North Versailles, PA | 06/08/2025 | $40,000 |
| Rbglobal | Tow Truck Driver-Temporary | Puyallup, WA | 06/04/2025 | $54,262 |
| Blue Eagle Towing | Tow Truck Driver | Fort Wayne, IN | 06/03/2025 | $36,523 |
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