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The differences between tow truck operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a tow truck operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a tow truck operator has an average salary of $43,448, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.
The top three skills for a tow truck operator include transport vehicles, tow truck and DOT. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Tow Truck Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,448 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $20.89 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 72,416 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 48 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Tow truck operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $43,448 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Longview, WA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | 7th Street Casino | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between a tow truck operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck operators' and operators' demographics:
| Tow Truck Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 48 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| 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, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |