What are the main factors that influence an Aircraft Tow Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Aircraft Tow Operator?

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Aircraft Tow Operator roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

How does experience change An Aircraft Tow Operator's salary?

An Aircraft Tow Operator's salary grows with experience: starting around $39,920 for beginners, reaching about $40,719 at mid-level, and approach $41,178 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for an Aircraft Tow Operator?

Aircraft Tow Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Aircraft Tow Operator roles are District of Columbia $49,776, California $49,587, Massachusetts $48,926. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Aircraft Tow Operator roles make?

Salaries for Aircraft Tow Operator level roles vary by specialization: Light Duty Tow Operator: $78,305; Heavy Tow Truck Operator: $74,431; Tow Operator: $53,751; Tow Truck Operator: $53,714; Heavy Duty Tow Operator: $53,644.

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary in South Dakota

How much does an Aircraft Tow Operator make in South Dakota? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aircraft Tow Operator in South Dakota is $40,857 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, an Aircraft Tow Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,170
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,742 to $44,162
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,906

10% $34,906

50% (Median) $40,857

90% $47,170

Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$44,162	$3,680	$849	$21
Average	$40,857	$3,405	$786	$20
25th Percentile	$37,742	$3,145	$726	$18

Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Check out Aircraft Tow Operator Job Openings in South Dakota

Tow Truck Operator

Redi Towing – Sioux Falls, SD

Tow Truck Operator

Plains Towing and Recovery – Belle Fourche, SD

Light Duty Tow Truck Operator

Plains Towing and Recovery – Belle Fourche, SD

Tow Driver

AAA- Auto Club Group – ELIOT, ME

Key Factors That Influence Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries

An Aircraft Tow Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aircraft Tow Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $39,920
Early Career (1-2 years): $40,168
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,719
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,086
Expert (over 8 years): $41,178

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Entry Level Aircraft Tow Operator	less than 1 year	$39,920
Early Career Level Aircraft Tow Operator	1-2 years	$40,168
Mid-Level Level Aircraft Tow Operator	2-4 years	$40,719
Senior-Level Level Aircraft Tow Operator	5-8 years	$41,086
Expert Level Aircraft Tow Operator	over 8 years	$41,178

How Do Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Aircraft Tow Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $49,776.
California: $49,587.
Massachusetts: $48,926.

District of Columbia $49,776 California $49,587 Massachusetts $48,926 Washington $48,746 New Jersey $48,728 Alaska $48,666 Connecticut $48,045 New York $47,793

Hawaii $46,989 Rhode Island $46,611 Maryland $46,355 Minnesota $46,004 Colorado $45,869 Illinois $45,824 Oregon $45,653 Delaware $45,528

New Hampshire $45,448 Virginia $45,271 Pennsylvania $44,754 Nevada $44,494 North Dakota $44,408 Michigan $44,273 Wisconsin $44,224 Vermont $44,125

Texas $43,851 Maine $43,833 Arizona $43,806 Ohio $43,774 Georgia $43,361 Indiana $43,154 Wyoming $43,113 Utah $43,050

Iowa $43,023 Kansas $42,808 Louisiana $42,745 North Carolina $42,722 Missouri $42,713 Florida $42,538 Montana $42,444 Nebraska $42,354

Kentucky $42,304 South Carolina $42,124 Tennessee $42,012 Idaho $41,967 New Mexico $41,639 Oklahoma $41,567 Alabama $41,302 South Dakota $40,857

Arkansas $40,614 West Virginia $40,483 Mississippi $40,092

Top Paying Cities for Aircraft Tow Operator

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Alcester: $41,282
Aurora: $41,502
Baltic: $41,055

Alcester, SD $41,282

Aurora, SD $41,502

Baltic, SD $41,055

Beresford, SD $41,177

Brandon, SD $40,971

Brookings, SD $41,578

Burbank, SD $41,135

Canistota, SD $41,196

Canton, SD $41,080

Centerville, SD $41,179

Chancellor, SD $41,075

Chester, SD $41,176

Colman, SD $41,311

Colton, SD $41,139

Crooks, SD $41,033

Davis, SD $41,129

Dell Rapids, SD $41,131

Egan, SD $41,241

Elk Point, SD $41,005

Elkton, SD $41,527

Fairview, SD $41,140

Flandreau, SD $41,375

Freeman, SD $41,330

Garretson, SD $41,063

Gayville, SD $41,399

Harrisburg, SD $40,997

Hartford, SD $41,060

Hudson, SD $41,173

Humboldt, SD $41,119

Hurley, SD $41,181

Irene, SD $41,296

Jefferson, SD $40,852

Lennox, SD $41,075

Lesterville, SD $41,369

Lyons, SD $41,071

Madison, SD $41,392

Marion, SD $41,209

Menno, SD $41,347

Mission Hill, SD $41,378

Monroe, SD $41,164

Belle Fourche, SD $41,323

Black Hawk, SD $40,059

Box Elder, SD $40,111

Buffalo, SD $41,248

Buffalo Gap, SD $40,924

Camp Crook, SD $41,288

Caputa, SD $40,304

Custer, SD $40,836

Deadwood, SD $40,584

Edgemont, SD $41,227

Enning, SD $40,906

Fairburn, SD $40,458

Fort Meade, SD $40,454

Hermosa, SD $40,296

Hill City, SD $40,569

Hot Springs, SD $41,196

Howes, SD $40,996

Interior, SD $41,062

Keystone, SD $40,256

Kyle, SD $41,150

Lead, SD $40,956

Ludlow, SD $41,410

Manderson, SD $41,216

Mud Butte, SD $41,022

Nemo, SD $40,313

Newell, SD $41,101

New Underwood, SD $40,306

Nisland, SD $41,192

Oelrichs, SD $41,111

Oglala, SD $41,182

Oral, SD $41,073

Owanka, SD $40,505

Piedmont, SD $40,089

Pine Ridge, SD $41,259

Porcupine, SD $41,135

Pringle, SD $40,963

Quinn, SD $41,003

Redig, SD $40,954

Saint Onge, SD $41,071

Scenic, SD $40,779

Smithwick, SD $41,125

Spearfish, SD $41,256

Sturgis, SD $40,326

Union Center, SD $40,933

Vale, SD $40,804

Wall, SD $40,943

Wasta, SD $40,736

White Owl, SD $41,015

Whitewood, SD $40,897

Wounded Knee, SD $41,218

Leola, SD $41,463

Long Lake, SD $41,526

Mansfield, SD $41,438

Mellette, SD $41,477

Northville, SD $41,432

Onaka, SD $41,272

Orient, SD $41,334

Pierpont, SD $41,474

Redfield, SD $41,541

Rockham, SD $41,383

Roscoe, SD $41,310

Selby, SD $41,238

Seneca, SD $41,245

Stratford, SD $41,479

Tolstoy, SD $41,248

Tulare, SD $41,484

Turton, SD $41,486

Warner, SD $41,527

Westport, SD $41,470

Pierre, SD $37,876

Agar, SD $38,861

Belvidere, SD $41,002

Blunt, SD $37,876

Burke, SD $41,323

Colome, SD $41,272

Dallas, SD $41,260

Draper, SD $39,986

Fort Pierre, SD $37,987

Gregory, SD $41,304

Hamill, SD $41,201

Harrold, SD $38,097

Hayes, SD $40,580

Herrick, SD $41,299

Holabird, SD $38,956

Ideal, SD $41,191

Kadoka, SD $41,049

Kennebec, SD $40,589

Long Valley, SD $41,047

Lower Brule, SD $40,536

Martin, SD $41,146

Midland, SD $40,914

Milesville, SD $40,941

Mission, SD $41,234

Murdo, SD $40,661

Norris, SD $41,111

Okaton, SD $41,007

Okreek, SD $41,211

Onida, SD $38,248

Parmelee, SD $41,185

Philip, SD $41,000

Presho, SD $40,286

Reliance, SD $41,225

Rosebud, SD $41,279

Saint Charles, SD $41,344

Saint Francis, SD $41,200

Tuthill, SD $41,097

Vivian, SD $40,111

Wanblee, SD $41,124

White River, SD $41,106

Winner, SD $41,234

Witten, SD $41,160

Wood, SD $41,101

Mobridge, SD $41,247

Bison, SD $41,144

Bullhead, SD $41,459

Cherry Creek, SD $41,037

Dupree, SD $41,046

Eagle Butte, SD $41,089

Faith, SD $41,034

Glencross, SD $41,069

Glenham, SD $41,262

Herreid, SD $41,419

Isabel, SD $41,061

Keldron, SD $41,259

Lantry, SD $41,108

Lemmon, SD $41,413

Little Eagle, SD $41,453

Lodgepole, SD $41,302

Mc Intosh, SD $41,321

Mc Laughlin, SD $41,285

Meadow, SD $41,049

Morristown, SD $41,363

Mound City, SD $41,345

Pollock, SD $41,501

Prairie City, SD $41,197

Ralph, SD $41,332

Reva, SD $41,200

Ridgeview, SD $41,109

Timber Lake, SD $41,130

Trail City, SD $41,117

Wakpala, SD $41,285

Walker, SD $41,351

Watauga, SD $41,258

Whitehorse, SD $41,153

Rapid City, SD $40,052

Ellsworth Afb, SD $40,052

Allen, SD $41,146

Batesland, SD $41,163

Montrose, SD $41,197

North Sioux City, SD $40,788

Nunda, SD $41,372

Oldham, SD $41,463

Olivet, SD $41,366

Parker, SD $41,142

Ramona, SD $41,390

Renner, SD $41,007

Rowena, SD $40,979

Rutland, SD $41,335

Salem, SD $41,338

Scotland, SD $41,431

Sinai, SD $41,594

Springfield, SD $41,480

Tabor, SD $41,453

Tea, SD $41,030

Trent, SD $41,186

Tyndall, SD $41,441

Utica, SD $41,369

Valley Springs, SD $41,004

Vermillion, SD $41,379

Viborg, SD $41,285

Volga, SD $41,497

Volin, SD $41,331

Wakonda, SD $41,289

Wentworth, SD $41,321

Winfred, SD $41,341

Worthing, SD $41,069

Yankton, SD $41,537

Sioux Falls, SD $40,969

Vienna, SD $41,572

Wallace, SD $41,547

Waubay, SD $41,527

Webster, SD $41,537

White, SD $41,601

Willow Lake, SD $41,619

Wilmot, SD $41,568

Mitchell, SD $41,575

Alexandria, SD $41,422

Alpena, SD $41,492

Armour, SD $41,406

Artesian, SD $41,486

Avon, SD $41,418

Bonesteel, SD $41,337

Bridgewater, SD $41,311

Canova, SD $41,366

Carpenter, SD $41,588

Carthage, SD $41,495

Cavour, SD $41,550

Chamberlain, SD $41,362

Corsica, SD $41,414

Dante, SD $41,393

Delmont, SD $41,395

Dimock, SD $41,441

Emery, SD $41,379

Ethan, SD $41,463

Fairfax, SD $41,344

Fedora, SD $41,450

Fort Thompson, SD $40,877

Fulton, SD $41,455

Gann Valley, SD $41,277

Geddes, SD $41,354

Harrison, SD $41,385

Highmore, SD $40,589

Stephan, SD $40,769

Hitchcock, SD $41,517

Howard, SD $41,470

Huron, SD $41,658

Iroquois, SD $41,559

Kaylor, SD $41,486

Kimball, SD $41,361

Lake Andes, SD $41,421

Lane, SD $41,579

Letcher, SD $41,467

Marty, SD $41,553

Miller, SD $41,399

Mount Vernon, SD $41,440

New Holland, SD $41,501

Oacoma, SD $41,325

Parkston, SD $41,458

Pickstown, SD $41,484

Plankinton, SD $41,433

Platte, SD $41,362

Pukwana, SD $41,333

Ree Heights, SD $41,127

Saint Lawrence, SD $41,401

Spencer, SD $41,361

Stickney, SD $41,406

Tripp, SD $41,418

Virgil, SD $41,457

Wagner, SD $41,426

Wessington, SD $41,426

Wessington Springs, SD $41,419

White Lake, SD $41,379

Wolsey, SD $41,508

Woonsocket, SD $41,489

Yale, SD $41,584

Aberdeen, SD $41,588

Akaska, SD $41,216

Amherst, SD $41,524

Andover, SD $41,464

Ashton, SD $41,456

Barnard, SD $41,513

Bath, SD $41,500

Bowdle, SD $41,294

Brentford, SD $41,531

Britton, SD $41,641

Claremont, SD $41,489

Columbia, SD $41,439

Conde, SD $41,483

Cresbard, SD $41,381

Doland, SD $41,572

Eureka, SD $41,440

Faulkton, SD $41,377

Ferney, SD $41,634

Frankfort, SD $41,569

Frederick, SD $41,524

Gettysburg, SD $40,989

Groton, SD $41,505

Hecla, SD $41,584

Hosmer, SD $41,374

Houghton, SD $41,408

Hoven, SD $41,261

Ipswich, SD $41,417

Java, SD $41,235

Langford, SD $41,468

Lebanon, SD $41,058

Watertown, SD $41,658

Arlington, SD $41,548

Astoria, SD $41,614

Badger, SD $41,620

Big Stone City, SD $41,681

Bradley, SD $41,534

Brandt, SD $41,586

Bristol, SD $41,500

Bruce, SD $41,540

Bryant, SD $41,600

Castlewood, SD $41,575

Claire City, SD $41,637

Clark, SD $41,605

Clear Lake, SD $41,589

Corona, SD $41,638

De Smet, SD $41,584

Eden, SD $41,510

Erwin, SD $41,557

Estelline, SD $41,568

Florence, SD $41,554

Garden City, SD $41,561

Gary, SD $41,616

Goodwin, SD $41,537

Grenville, SD $41,499

Hayti, SD $41,590

Hazel, SD $41,571

Henry, SD $41,572

Kranzburg, SD $41,727

Labolt, SD $41,541

Lake City, SD $41,579

Lake Norden, SD $41,610

Lake Preston, SD $41,570

Marvin, SD $41,496

Milbank, SD $41,674

New Effington, SD $41,726

Ortley, SD $41,505

Peever, SD $41,561

Raymond, SD $41,582

Revillo, SD $41,566

Rosholt, SD $41,716

Roslyn, SD $41,491

Sisseton, SD $41,586

South Shore, SD $41,509

Stockholm, SD $41,509

Strandburg, SD $41,505

Summit, SD $41,508

Toronto, SD $41,570

Twin Brooks, SD $41,494

Veblen, SD $41,658

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aircraft Tow Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Durable and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Aircraft Tow Operator positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aircraft Tow Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Aircraft Tow Operator

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable	$61,285	$29.0	50%
Chemicals	$49,028	$24.0	20%

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aircraft Tow Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$37,742

Average $40,857/year

$44,162

$3,145

Average $3,405/month

$3,680

$726

Average $786/week

$849

$18

Average $20/hour

$21

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$44,162	$3,680	$849	$21
Average	$40,857	$3,405	$786	$20
25th Percentile	$37,742	$3,145	$726	$18

Find Your Next Aircraft Tow Operator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Aircraft Tow Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Aircraft Tow Operator Salary in South Dakota

Check out Aircraft Tow Operator Job Openings in South Dakota

Key Factors That Influence Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries?

How Do Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Aircraft Tow Operator

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Aircraft Tow Operator

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Find Your Next Aircraft Tow Operator Job

For Employees

For Employers

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary in South Dakota

Check out Aircraft Tow Operator Job Openings in South Dakota

Key Factors That Influence Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries?

How Do Aircraft Tow Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Aircraft Tow Operator

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Aircraft Tow Operator

Aircraft Tow Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to Aircraft Tow Operator

Find Your Next Aircraft Tow Operator Job

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