Crane and Tower Operator Salary
Crane and Tower Operators earn a median $68,080 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
U.S. median
$68,080
$32.73 per hour
Range
$42,640 – $103,570
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
42,890
across the U.S.
▲2.6%
Pay trend: The median for crane and tower operators in the U.S. rose from $66,370 (May 2024) to $68,080 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What crane and tower operators do
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 3,500
Employment of crane and tower operators is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Crane and Tower Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$56,724
per year · effective tax rate 16.7%
$4,727Monthly
$2,364Twice a month
$2,182Every 2 weeks
$27.27Hourly
- Federal income tax$6,148
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,221
- Medicare (1.45%)$987
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$56,724
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,640 | $20.50 | $36,441 |
| 25th percentile | $52,600 | $25.29 | $44,444 |
| Median (50th) | $68,080 | $32.73 | $56,724 |
| 75th percentile | $83,200 | $40.00 | $67,361 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,570 | $49.79 | $81,691 |
Crane and Tower Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124,260 | +7.2% | $88,284 | $96,640 – $131,220 | 190 |
| Nevada | $115,840 | −10.8% | $90,323 | $61,460 – $135,000 | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | — | $78,879 | $67,460 – $132,610 | — |
| Washington | $101,110 | +4.4% | $79,961 | $63,180 – $133,550 | 1,030 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | +13.8% | $75,409 | $65,510 – $129,570 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | +28.1% | $73,191 | $59,860 – $129,790 | 680 |
| Alaska | $92,490 | +14.3% | $73,897 | $81,060 – $116,480 | 50 |
| Maryland | $87,950 | +31.7% | $66,889 | $61,450 – $94,700 | — |
| New York | $85,850 | −22.0% | $65,187 | $49,460 – $216,500 | 1,150 |
| Oregon | $83,260 | −24.5% | $60,948 | $49,780 – $132,400 | 340 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 | +10.7% | $66,786 | $50,200 – $96,790 | 180 |
| Montana | $82,800 | −9.5% | $63,763 | $51,970 – $101,860 | 30 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 | −6.3% | $63,167 | $52,000 – $106,980 | 220 |
| Minnesota | $80,930 | +20.2% | $61,784 | $52,590 – $116,890 | 370 |
| California | $79,570 | +13.7% | $60,603 | $50,550 – $135,820 | 2,130 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 | +2.4% | $63,682 | $63,650 – $94,580 | 230 |
| Colorado | $77,120 | +4.0% | $60,399 | $57,800 – $97,470 | 470 |
| Kansas | $77,100 | +19.7% | $59,567 | $49,840 – $99,500 | 780 |
| Texas | $73,280 | +0.6% | $60,382 | $42,790 – $93,390 | 6,010 |
| Vermont | $72,760 | −1.5% | $57,675 | $61,070 – $105,910 | 170 |
| Florida | $71,560 | +2.0% | $59,172 | $47,840 – $94,170 | 2,570 |
| South Dakota | $71,000 | +0.9% | $58,779 | $58,370 – $93,600 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $67,720 | −0.9% | $54,262 | $48,980 – $104,420 | 440 |
| Iowa | $67,600 | +21.5% | $54,470 | $47,480 – $83,650 | 650 |
| Utah | $67,410 | −2.3% | $54,185 | $35,880 – $97,140 | 440 |
| Arizona | $67,350 | −0.9% | $54,736 | $50,930 – $87,990 | 930 |
| Virginia | $66,600 | +1.8% | $52,668 | $42,720 – $88,480 | 1,120 |
| Maine | $65,690 | +7.1% | $51,710 | $45,310 – $90,730 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,190 | +12.9% | $52,559 | $44,320 – $106,380 | 1,630 |
| North Carolina | $64,480 | +3.9% | $51,926 | $46,530 – $82,730 | 1,050 |
| South Carolina | $64,120 | +15.7% | $51,010 | $45,420 – $89,440 | 720 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 | −11.1% | $50,959 | $46,300 – $82,500 | 620 |
| New Hampshire | $63,310 | −0.2% | $53,050 | $48,830 – $88,630 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $62,400 | +2.4% | $50,551 | $45,180 – $81,830 | 290 |
| Georgia | $62,050 | −7.7% | $49,440 | $41,700 – $76,860 | 1,370 |
| Kentucky | $62,000 | +12.5% | $49,945 | $40,810 – $89,660 | 640 |
| Illinois | $61,820 | +16.1% | $48,937 | $41,470 – $131,280 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $61,260 | −2.0% | $49,684 | $34,690 – $73,840 | 550 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 | +0.1% | $49,881 | $45,370 – $82,620 | 1,930 |
| Alabama | $60,790 | +27.7% | $48,250 | $37,650 – $99,380 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $60,720 | −9.1% | $49,085 | $36,140 – $82,410 | 410 |
| Delaware | $60,160 | −4.2% | $47,857 | $53,940 – $77,730 | 220 |
| Michigan | $59,740 | −22.5% | $47,893 | $44,510 – $99,090 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $59,410 | +5.1% | $49,916 | $40,890 – $84,090 | 660 |
| Missouri | $58,450 | +25.5% | $47,335 | $40,680 – $95,580 | 630 |
| Ohio | $57,620 | −7.7% | $47,675 | $41,910 – $98,530 | 1,780 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 | +0.3% | $44,501 | $36,260 – $72,090 | 170 |
| Indiana | $52,950 | −8.5% | $43,193 | $38,830 – $87,640 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $52,770 | −28.2% | $42,892 | $46,970 – $104,240 | — |
| Arkansas | $41,600 | −1.4% | $34,196 | $35,920 – $64,100 | 880 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellhead Pumper | $69,960 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.0% |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.3% |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $58,870 | No formal educational credential | +2.8% |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operator | $77,320 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.1% |
| Hoist and Winch Operator | $56,450 | No formal educational credential | +0.2% |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 | No formal educational credential | +2.1% |
| Dredge Operator | $49,640 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.7% |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $46,420 | No formal educational credential | +1.5% |
| Conveyor Operator and Tender | $42,420 | No formal educational credential | -2.6% |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 | No formal educational credential | +2.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make?
The national median salary for crane and tower operators is $68,080 a year ($32.73 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,640 and the top 10% earn over $103,570. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays crane and tower operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median pay at $124,260.
How many crane and tower operators are there in the U.S.?
About 42,890 people work as crane and tower operators nationwide.