How much does a crane and tower operator make in San Diego?
$79,720a year
Median yearly pay for crane and tower operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $38.33 an hour or $6,643 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.33
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 32 of 167
- Jobs in the area
- 210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $67,320Median: $79,720Highest 10%: $124,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,320 | $32.37 | |
| 25th | $73,320 | $35.25 | |
| Median | $79,720 | $38.33 | |
| 75th | $79,790 | $38.36 | |
| 90th | $124,100 | $59.65 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for crane and tower operators.
| San Francisco, CA | $98,410 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $81,490 |
| Oxnard, CA | $78,310 |
| Riverside, CA | $78,140 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,330 |
| Stockton, CA | $77,130 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $70,840 |
| Sacramento, CA | $64,500 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $322,000 |
| Commercial Pilot | $128,100 |
| Ship Engineer | $85,310 |
| Traffic Technician | $85,100 |
| Transportation Inspector | $83,000 |
| Captain | $76,490 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $74,590 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $69,300 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $63,550 |
| Bus Driver | $61,290 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38.33 ($79,720 a year).
Do crane and tower operators make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $79,720 against $68,080 nationally, 17% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $79,570, so San Diego pays 0% more.
Where does San Diego rank for crane and tower operator pay?
32 of 167 metro areas with data.
How much does a crane and tower operator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $67,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $124,100 or more.
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.