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The differences between tow truck operators and commercial drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a tow truck operator and a commercial driver. Additionally, a commercial driver has an average salary of $46,852, which is higher than the $43,448 average annual salary of a tow truck operator.
The top three skills for a tow truck operator include transport vehicles, tow truck and DOT. The most important skills for a commercial driver are customer service, CDL, and ladders.
| Tow Truck Operator | Commercial Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,448 | $46,852 |
| Hourly rate | $20.89 | $22.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 72,416 | 1,016,123 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Tow Truck Operator works with a towing company and assists with removing damaged vehicles from accident scenes or broken down vehicles that have been abandoned at the request of the owner of the vehicle or the owner of the property. Typically, the tow truck operator's duties start first by receiving a call from a dispatcher and then driving to the accident or breakdown scene. He/She connects the vehicle to the tow truck and transports it to its final destination, a junkyard or a service station.
A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.
Tow truck operators and commercial drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Operator | Commercial Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,448 | $46,852 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Longview, WA | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | 7th Street Casino | Laramie County Community College |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a tow truck operator and a commercial driver in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Operator | Commercial Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck operators' and commercial drivers' demographics:
| Tow Truck Operator | Commercial Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |