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Tow truck operator salary
Average tow truck operator salary
$43,448
Average Tow Truck Operator Salary
The average salary for a Tow Truck Operator in the United States is approximately $43,448 per year or around $21 per hour. Salary levels can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start at lower salary ranges, while experienced operators can earn considerably more. For instance, operators with several years of experience may see salaries rise to over $50,000 annually.
Highest Paying States
States such as California, Texas, and Florida are known for offering higher wages to tow truck operators, primarily due to demand and living costs. Understanding these variations can help job seekers make informed career decisions.
Job Opportunities
In addition to traditional towing services, opportunities in roadside assistance and specialized towing for heavy vehicles are increasing. As the industry evolves, so do the potential earnings for dedicated professionals.
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Where can a Tow Truck Operator earn more?
Tow truck operator salaries by experience level
Tow truck operator salary estimates from across the web
Average tow truck operator salary by state
The average tow truck operator salary in Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average tow truck operator salary states are North Carolina, Florida, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for tow truck operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $39,703 | $19.09 |
| 2 | Kansas | $39,995 | $19.23 |
| 3 | Washington | $48,646 | $23.39 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $39,911 | $19.19 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $40,541 | $19.49 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $55,473 | $26.67 |
| 7 | Iowa | $38,818 | $18.66 |
| 8 | Idaho | $41,194 | $19.80 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $39,132 | $18.81 |
| 10 | Colorado | $39,874 | $19.17 |
| 11 | Oregon | $42,284 | $20.33 |
| 12 | Montana | $41,006 | $19.71 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $41,903 | $20.15 |
| 14 | Illinois | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $37,897 | $18.22 |
| 16 | Arizona | $39,186 | $18.84 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $37,116 | $17.84 |
| 18 | Alabama | $36,146 | $17.38 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $36,473 | $17.54 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $39,268 | $18.88 |
| 21 | California | $40,585 | $19.51 |
| 22 | Virginia | $36,813 | $17.70 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $37,532 | $18.04 |
| 24 | Texas | $34,985 | $16.82 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $33,116 | $15.92 |
| 26 | Alaska | $41,147 | $19.78 |
| 27 | Indiana | $33,051 | $15.89 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $33,383 | $16.05 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $41,024 | $19.72 |
| 30 | Nevada | $35,846 | $17.23 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $32,695 | $15.72 |
| 32 | Maryland | $37,106 | $17.84 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $36,231 | $17.42 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $32,612 | $15.68 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $36,069 | $17.34 |
| 36 | Georgia | $31,739 | $15.26 |
| 37 | Utah | $33,123 | $15.92 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $35,928 | $17.27 |
| 39 | Ohio | $30,452 | $14.64 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $32,608 | $15.68 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $36,089 | $17.35 |
| 42 | Delaware | $33,754 | $16.23 |
| 43 | Vermont | $33,824 | $16.26 |
| 44 | Michigan | $32,170 | $15.47 |
| 45 | Missouri | $30,672 | $14.75 |
| 46 | New York | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $31,230 | $15.01 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $32,454 | $15.60 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $27,854 | $13.39 |
| 50 | Maine | $30,001 | $14.42 |
| 51 | Florida | $31,179 | $14.99 |
Highest paying cities for tow truck operators
The highest-paying cities for tow truck operators are Longview, WA, Great Falls, MT, and Fort Collins, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Longview, WA | $49,587 | $23.84 |
| 2 | Great Falls, MT | $41,310 | $19.86 |
| 3 | Fort Collins, CO | $40,106 | $19.28 |
| 4 | Lawrence, KS | $39,988 | $19.23 |
| 5 | Moorhead, MN | $39,950 | $19.21 |
| 6 | Lake Elsinore, CA | $39,704 | $19.09 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,342 | $18.91 |
| 8 | Des Moines, IA | $38,739 | $18.62 |
| 9 | Chattanooga, TN | $37,685 | $18.12 |
| 10 | Fond du Lac, WI | $37,637 | $18.09 |
| 11 | Springfield, VA | $37,378 | $17.97 |
| 12 | Bridgeport, CT | $36,366 | $17.48 |
| 13 | Hamilton, NJ | $36,358 | $17.48 |
| 14 | Huntsville, AL | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| 15 | Woburn, MA | $35,979 | $17.30 |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $35,798 | $17.21 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $32,606 | $15.68 |
| 18 | Concord, NH | $32,485 | $15.62 |
| 19 | Bethlehem, PA | $32,268 | $15.51 |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $32,165 | $15.46 |
Tow truck operator salary details
A tow truck operator's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a tow truck operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $43,448 | $3,621 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying tow truck operator jobs
The highest paying types of tow truck operators are operator and truck driver, driver/owner operator, and owner/operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Class A Driver | $52,203 | $4,350 | $25.10 | 696,903 |
| Transportation Driver | $43,236 | $3,603 | $20.79 | 1,006,562 |
| Over The Road Driver | $62,119 | $5,177 | $29.86 | 711,143 |
| CDL Driver | $63,112 | $5,259 | $30.34 | 784,044 |
| Commercial Driver | $46,852 | $3,904 | $22.53 | 1,016,123 |
| Van Driver | $36,254 | $3,021 | $17.43 | 791,293 |
Top companies hiring tow truck operators now:
Which companies pay tow truck operators the most?
Tow truck operator salaries at 7th Street Casino and Auto Club Speedway are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tow truck operator salary at companies like Scotts and AAA Southern New England Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7th Street Casino | $43,906 | $21.11 |
| 2 | Auto Club Speedway | $42,241 | $20.31 |
| 3 | Scotts | $41,565 | $19.98 |
| 4 | AAA Northeast | $39,588 | $19.03 |
| 5 | New England Industrial Truck Incorporated | $38,028 | $18.28 |
| 6 | AAA AUTO | $36,598 | $17.60 |
| 7 | City of St. Louis | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| 8 | D&D Technologies | $35,747 | $17.19 |
| 9 | Greensboro Auto Auction | $34,339 | $16.51 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Tow Truck Operator salary by industry
The average tow truck operator salary varies across industries:
- The average tow truck operator salary in the hospitality industry is $40,397, the highest of any industry.
- The average tow truck operator salary in the finance industry is $39,632.
- Tow truck operators in the professional industry earn an average salary of $35,539, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for tow truck operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $40,397 | $19.42 |
| 2 | Media | $39,632 | $19.05 |
| 3 | Transportation | $39,024 | $18.76 |
| 4 | Automotive | $37,142 | $17.86 |
| 5 | Professional | $35,539 | $17.09 |
High paying tow truck operator jobs
Tow truck operator salary trends
The average tow truck operator salary has risen by $8,481 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tow truck operator earned $34,967 annually, but today, they earn $43,448 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for tow truck operators over the last decade.
Compare tow truck operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average tow truck operator salary over time
Compare tow truck operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Tow truck operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,400 | $20.89 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $41,700 | $20.06 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $40,300 | $19.36 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $39,200 | $18.83 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $38,100 | $18.32 | +2.6% |
Recently added tow truck operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake | Tow Truck Operator/Customer Service | Salt Lake City, UT | 03/12/2025 | $37,566 |
| Plainstowingrecovery | Tow Truck Operator | Belle Fourche, SD | 02/19/2025 | $32,000 |
| BSC America, Inc. | Tow Truck Operator | Bel Air, MD | 02/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| Pro Tow | Heavy Duty Tow Truck and Recovery Operator With CDL | Auburn, WA | 02/17/2025 | $90,388 |
| Plainstowingrecovery | Tow Truck Operator | Wyoming | 02/17/2025 | $32,000 |
| Pro-Tow | Heavy Duty Tow Truck and Recovery Operator With CDL | Auburn, WA | 02/15/2025 | $90,388 |
| Pro-Tow-24 Hr Towing & Emergency Services | Heavy Duty Tow Truck and Recovery Operator With CDL | Auburn, WA | 01/24/2025 | $90,388 |
| Midas/Arnaz Auto Group | Tow Truck Operator | Southfield, MI | 01/17/2025 | $35,479 |
| Quantum Towing LLC | Heavy Tow Truck Operator | Kyle, TX | 01/16/2025 | $78,263 |
| Tri-City Towing Service, LLC | Tow Truck Operator | Grand Haven, MI | 01/15/2025 | $31,305 |
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