Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 43K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$68,080
Median hourly
$33
Average annual
$72,130
Typical range
$42,640–$103,570
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Crane and Tower Operators is $68,080 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $33 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions..
Most earn between $42,640 and $103,570 a year. There are roughly 43K people employed as crane and tower operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Crane and Tower Operators.
- Hourly
- $32.73
- Daily
- $262
- Weekly
- $1,309
- Bi-weekly
- $2,618
- Monthly
- $5,673
- Annual
- $68,080
$68,080 a year is around the 50th percentile for Crane and Tower Operatorss. The median is $68,080.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Hawaii$124,260
- 2Nevada$115,840
- 3Rhode Island$104,340
- 4Washington$101,110
- 5New Jersey$100,640
- 6Massachusetts$98,150
- 7Alaska$92,490
- 8Maryland$87,950
- 9New York$85,850
- 10Oregon$83,260
- 11North Dakota$82,890
- 12Montana$82,800
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$131,690
- 2Worcester, MA$122,260
- 3Urban Honolulu, HI$120,560
- 4Kennewick-Richland, WA$120,310
- 5Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$116,840
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$114,330
- 7Reno, NV$101,160
- 8New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$100,640
- 9Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$99,540
- 10Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$99,320
- 11New Haven, CT$99,130
- 12Reading, PA$98,860
Related job titles
Employers advertise Crane and Tower Operators roles under these titles.
- Acid Crane Operator
- Boom Cat Operator
- Boom Crane Operator
- Boomswing Operator
- Bottom Crane Operator
- Bridge Crane Operator
- Burial Vault Deliverer and Installer
- Cantilever Crane Operator
- Cell Tower Technician (Cell Tower Tech)
- Certified Crane Operator
- Charging Crane Operator
- Cherry Picker Operator
- Cinder Dump Crane Operator
- Cinder Pit Crane Operator
- Clamshell Operator
- Coal Tower Operator
Related occupations
- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,430
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
- Riggers$62,640
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,500
- Pile Driver Operators$73,300
What a Crane and Tower Operators does
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
- Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Crane and Tower Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators is $68,080 ($33 per hour). Pay ranges from about $42,640 at the 10th percentile to $103,570 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Crane and Tower Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $72,130, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Crane and Tower Operatorss the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $124,260.
- Is Crane and Tower Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 43K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Crane and Tower Operators do?
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.; Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.; Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage..