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The differences between tow truck operators and driver/owner operators 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 driver/owner operator. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, 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 driver/owner operator are CDL, DOT, and OTR.
| Tow Truck Operator | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,448 | $169,793 |
| Hourly rate | $20.89 | $81.63 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 72,416 | 170,784 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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.
Driver/owner-operators are self-employed commercial truck drivers who operate trucks to transport goods for their customers. Most of these operators started working as drivers for trucking companies to gain experience and decide if it's the right career path for them. They are allowed to haul freelance or agree to a lease agreement dedicating their equipment to one product or customer. To become an owner-operator, one should consider many things, including business set-up, vehicle type, and licenses.
Tow truck operators and driver/owner operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Operator | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average salary | $43,448 | $169,793 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $69,000 And $417,000 |
| Highest paying City | Longview, WA | Savannah, GA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Texas |
| Best paying company | 7th Street Casino | Clean Harbors |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Energy |
There are a few differences between a tow truck operator and a driver/owner operator in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Operator | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck operators' and driver/owner operators' demographics:
| Tow Truck Operator | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |