Crane and Tower Operators pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for crane and tower operators is $32.73 an hour ($68,080 a year). About 42,890 people work in this job there.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $20.50 | $42,640 |
| 25% of workers | $25.29 | $52,600 |
| Half of workers (median) | $32.73 | $68,080 |
| 75% of workers | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| 90% of workers | $49.79 | $103,570 |
Best-paying states for crane and tower operators
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124,260 | 190 |
| Nevada | $115,840 | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | 0 |
| Washington | $101,110 | 1,030 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | 680 |
| Alaska | $92,490 | 50 |
| Maryland | $87,950 | 0 |
| New York | $85,850 | 1,150 |
| Oregon | $83,260 | 340 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $60,790
- Arizona · $67,350
- Arkansas · $41,600
- California · $79,570
- Florida · $71,560
- Georgia · $62,050
- Illinois · $61,820
- Indiana · $52,950
- Iowa · $67,600
- Kansas · $77,100
- Kentucky · $62,000
- Louisiana · $61,170
- Massachusetts · $98,150
- Michigan · $59,740
- Mississippi · $61,260
- Missouri · $58,450
- New Jersey · $100,640
- New York · $85,850
- North Carolina · $64,480
- Ohio · $57,620
- Oklahoma · $63,590
- Pennsylvania · $65,190
- South Carolina · $64,120
- Tennessee · $59,410
- Texas · $73,280
- Virginia · $66,600
- Washington · $101,110
Education, experience and outlook for crane and tower operators
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +3.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 3,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,690 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.