How much does a crane and tower operator make in San Francisco?
$98,410a year
Median yearly pay for crane and tower operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $47.31 an hour or $8,201 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.31
- Vs. national median
- +45%
- Rank among cities
- 13 of 167
- Jobs in the area
- 240
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $50,550Median: $98,410Highest 10%: $154,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,550 | $24.30 | |
| 25th | $72,900 | $35.05 | |
| Median | $98,410 | $47.31 | |
| 75th | $138,400 | $66.52 | |
| 90th | $154,500 | $74.28 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for crane and tower operators.
| Los Angeles, CA | $81,490 |
| San Diego, CA | $79,720 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $374,700 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $193,400 |
| Commercial Pilot | $173,100 |
| Captain | $124,600 |
| Ship Engineer | $108,800 |
| Transportation Inspector | $104,100 |
| Traffic Technician | $92,710 |
| Flight Attendant | $89,430 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $85,680 |
| Bus Driver | $78,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $47.31 ($98,410 a year).
Do crane and tower operators make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $98,410 against $68,080 nationally, 45% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $79,570, so San Francisco pays 24% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for crane and tower operator pay?
13 of 167 metro areas with data.
How much does a crane and tower operator make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $50,550 or less a year; the top 10% make $154,500 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.