How much does a crane and tower operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $32.73 an hour or $5,673 a month.
- Hourly
- $32.73
- Average (mean)
- $72,130
- Jobs
- 42,890
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,640 | $20.50 | |
| 25th | $52,600 | $25.29 | |
| Median | $68,080 | $32.73 | |
| 75th | $83,200 | $40.00 | |
| 90th | $103,600 | $49.79 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Hawaii | $124,300 |
| Nevada | $115,800 |
| Rhode Island | $104,300 |
| Washington | $101,100 |
| New Jersey | $100,600 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 |
| Alaska | $92,490 |
| Maryland | $87,950 |
| New York | $85,850 |
| Oregon | $83,260 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 |
| Montana | $82,800 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 |
| Minnesota | $80,930 |
| California | $79,570 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 |
| Colorado | $77,120 |
| Kansas | $77,100 |
| Texas | $73,280 |
| Vermont | $72,760 |
| Florida | $71,560 |
| South Dakota | $71,000 |
| Wisconsin | $67,720 |
| Iowa | $67,600 |
| Utah | $67,410 |
| Arizona | $67,350 |
| Virginia | $66,600 |
| Maine | $65,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,190 |
| North Carolina | $64,480 |
| South Carolina | $64,120 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 |
| New Hampshire | $63,310 |
| New Mexico | $62,400 |
| Georgia | $62,050 |
| Kentucky | $62,000 |
| Illinois | $61,820 |
| Mississippi | $61,260 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 |
| Alabama | $60,790 |
| Nebraska | $60,720 |
| Delaware | $60,160 |
| Michigan | $59,740 |
| Tennessee | $59,410 |
| Missouri | $58,450 |
| Ohio | $57,620 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 |
| Indiana | $52,950 |
| Idaho | $52,770 |
| Arkansas | $41,600 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Las Vegas, NV | $131,700 |
| Worcester, MA | $122,300 |
| Honolulu, HI | $120,600 |
| Kennewick, WA | $120,300 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $116,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $114,300 |
| Reno, NV | $101,200 |
| New York, NY | $100,600 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $99,540 |
| Bremerton, WA | $99,320 |
| New Haven, CT | $99,130 |
| Reading, PA | $98,860 |
| San Francisco, CA | $98,410 |
| Boston, MA | $98,140 |
| Hartford, CT | $97,740 |
In other countries
Crane and Tower Operator belongs to the international group "Crane, hoist and related plant operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420
- Dredge Operator$49,640
- Hoist and Winch Operator$56,450
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420
- Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$35,830
- Laborer and Freight$40,240
- Machine Feeder and Offbearer$41,220
- Packer and Packager$36,280
- Stocker and Order Filler$37,330
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operator$77,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $32.73 ($68,080 a year).
How much does a crane and tower operator make a month?
About $5,673 a month before tax, based on a median of $68,080 a year.
How much does a crane and tower operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,640 or less a year ($20.50 an hour); the top 10% make $103,600 or more.
Which state pays crane and tower operators the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $124,300 a year, followed by Nevada ($115,800) and Rhode Island ($104,300).
Which city pays crane and tower operators the most?
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV, with a median of $131,700 a year.
How many crane and tower operators are there in the United States?
About 42,890 people work as crane and tower operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.