Crane and tower operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| Mean (average) | $72,130 | $34.68 |
| 90th percentile | $103,570 | $49.79 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Crane and tower operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,790 | $37,650 | $99,380 | 1,280 | 2.19 |
| Alaska | $92,490 | $81,060 | $116,480 | 50 | 0.58 |
| Arizona | $67,350 | $50,930 | $87,990 | 930 | 1.04 |
| Arkansas | $41,600 | $35,920 | $64,100 | 880 | 2.45 |
| California | $79,570 | $50,550 | $135,820 | 2,130 | 0.42 |
| Colorado | $77,120 | $57,800 | $97,470 | 470 | 0.59 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 | $52,000 | $106,980 | 220 | 0.46 |
| Delaware | $60,160 | $53,940 | $77,730 | 220 | 1.63 |
| Florida | $71,560 | $47,840 | $94,170 | 2,570 | 0.94 |
| Georgia | $62,050 | $41,700 | $76,860 | 1,370 | 1.02 |
| Guam | $58,140 | $47,010 | $72,230 | 50 | 2.56 |
| Hawaii | $124,260 | $96,640 | $131,220 | 190 | 1.1 |
| Idaho | $52,770 | $46,970 | $104,240 | ||
| Illinois | $61,820 | $41,470 | $131,280 | 1,220 | 0.73 |
| Indiana | $52,950 | $38,830 | $87,640 | 2,300 | 2.6 |
| Iowa | $67,600 | $47,480 | $83,650 | 650 | 1.52 |
| Kansas | $77,100 | $49,840 | $99,500 | 780 | 1.96 |
| Kentucky | $62,000 | $40,810 | $89,660 | 640 | 1.17 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 | $45,370 | $82,620 | 1,930 | 3.61 |
| Maine | $65,690 | $45,310 | $90,730 | 360 | 2.03 |
| Maryland | $87,950 | $61,450 | $94,700 | ||
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | $59,860 | $129,790 | 680 | 0.68 |
| Michigan | $59,740 | $44,510 | $99,090 | 1,310 | 1.08 |
| Minnesota | $80,930 | $52,590 | $116,890 | 370 | 0.45 |
| Mississippi | $61,260 | $34,690 | $73,840 | 550 | 1.72 |
| Missouri | $58,450 | $40,680 | $95,580 | 630 | 0.77 |
| Montana | $82,800 | $51,970 | $101,860 | 30 | 0.25 |
| Nebraska | $60,720 | $36,140 | $82,410 | 410 | 1.44 |
| Nevada | $115,840 | $61,460 | $135,000 | 380 | 0.89 |
| New Hampshire | $63,310 | $48,830 | $88,630 | 170 | 0.91 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | $65,510 | $129,570 | 1,000 | 0.84 |
| New Mexico | $62,400 | $45,180 | $81,830 | 290 | 1.23 |
| New York | $85,850 | $49,460 | $216,500 | 1,150 | 0.43 |
| North Carolina | $64,480 | $46,530 | $82,730 | 1,050 | 0.77 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 | $50,200 | $96,790 | 180 | 1.49 |
| Ohio | $57,620 | $41,910 | $98,530 | 1,780 | 1.16 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 | $46,300 | $82,500 | 620 | 1.31 |
| Oregon | $83,260 | $49,780 | $132,400 | 340 | 0.63 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,190 | $44,320 | $106,380 | 1,630 | 0.97 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | $67,460 | $132,610 | ||
| South Carolina | $64,120 | $45,420 | $89,440 | 720 | 1.13 |
| South Dakota | $71,000 | $58,370 | $93,600 | 120 | 0.95 |
| Tennessee | $59,410 | $40,890 | $84,090 | 660 | 0.73 |
| Texas | $73,280 | $42,790 | $93,390 | 6,010 | 1.55 |
| Utah | $67,410 | $35,880 | $97,140 | 440 | 0.91 |
| Vermont | $72,760 | $61,070 | $105,910 | 170 | 2.05 |
| Virginia | $66,600 | $42,720 | $88,480 | 1,120 | 0.99 |
| Washington | $101,110 | $63,180 | $133,550 | 1,030 | 1.05 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 | $36,260 | $72,090 | 170 | 0.9 |
| Wisconsin | $67,720 | $48,980 | $104,420 | 440 | 0.54 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 | $63,650 | $94,580 | 230 | 3.01 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for crane and tower operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for crane and tower operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation CIP 49.0202
- Mobil Crane Operator/Operation CIP 49.0206
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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 crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Crane operation control software
- Inventory tracking software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Maintenance.
Common job titles: Crane Operator, Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Machine Operator, Mobile Crane Operator, Overhead Crane Operator, Port Crane Operator, Scrap Crane Operator, Tower Crane Operator, Woodyard Crane Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do crane and tower operators make?
The national median annual wage for crane and tower operators was $68,080 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,640 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $103,570. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do crane and tower operators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is crane and tower operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of crane and tower operators to change +3.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay crane and tower operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($124,260), Nevada ($115,840), Rhode Island ($104,340). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.