How much do Crane and Tower Operators make?
Crane and Tower Operators earn a median annual salary of $68,080 in the United States, which works out to roughly $32.73 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $42,640 at the entry level and $103,570 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $52,600 and $83,200 a year.
That is $6,690 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Crane and Tower Operators salary range by percentile
Half of all Crane and Tower Operators earn between $52,600 and $83,200 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,640 | $20.50 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $52,600 | $25.29 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,080 | $32.73 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $83,200 | $40.00 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,570 | $49.79 |
Highest-paying states for Crane and Tower Operators
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Crane and Tower Operators pay at $124,260 a year, followed by Nevada ($115,840) and Rhode Island ($104,340). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $41,600 — a gap of $82,660 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $124,260 | $59.74 | +83% |
| 2 | Nevada | $115,840 | $55.69 | +70% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $104,340 | $50.16 | +53% |
| 4 | Washington | $101,110 | $48.61 | +49% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $100,640 | $48.38 | +48% |
Crane and Tower Operators salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 43,000 people work as Crane and Tower Operators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $72,130 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other transportation roles with similar pay.