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The differences between tow truck operators and over the road 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 an over the road driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, 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 an over the road driver are CDL, PET, and post-trip inspections.
| Tow Truck Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,448 | $62,119 |
| Hourly rate | $20.89 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 72,416 | 711,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| 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.
Over the road, (OTR) drivers are the truckers driving the big semi-trailer truck that hauls all types of goods to their destinations across the states. Their journey typically begins with loading the freight onto the trailer, requiring them to lift heavy materials and load the cargo properly to avoid shifting while in transit. They often sleep in the sleeper berth at a truck stop to eat, freshen up and refuel. They are allowed to go on a 30-minute break after an eight-hour drive.
Tow truck operators and over the road drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,448 | $62,119 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $43,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Longview, WA | Camden, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | 7th Street Casino | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a tow truck operator and an over the road driver in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck operators' and over the road drivers' demographics:
| Tow Truck Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |