Crane and Tower Operator Salary in Dallas, TX
Crane and Tower Operators in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $68,640 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,118 take-home, or $4,760 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median crane and tower operator salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,271
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,256
- Medicare (1.45%)$995
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$57,118
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Crane and Tower Operator pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,290 | $22.25 | $39,374 | $3,281 |
| 25th percentile | $53,410 | $25.68 | $45,095 | $3,758 |
| Median (50th) | $68,640 | $33.00 | $57,118 | $4,760 |
| 75th percentile | $79,670 | $38.30 | $64,878 | $5,406 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,940 | $44.20 | $73,510 | $6,126 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,640 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median crane and tower operator's $57,118 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,406 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Crane and Tower Operator jobs are about as common in Dallas, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for crane and tower operators, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #9 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $114,330 | $89,261 | $80,319 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $98,140 | $73,184 | $67,597 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $100,640 | $74,733 | $66,392 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $75,500 | $61,944 | $62,805 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | $66,680 | $54,125 | $59,622 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,580 | $58,284 | $56,414 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $78,100 | $63,773 | $55,866 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $72,010 | $57,278 | $55,852 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $68,640 | $57,118 | $55,406 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
Crane and Tower Operator salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Houston, TX — $75,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make in Dallas, TX?
The median crane and tower operator salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $68,640 a year, or about $33.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $53,410 and $79,670.
What is a crane and tower operator’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $68,640 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $57,118 a year ($4,760 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a crane and tower operator?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $68,080. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,406 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #9 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a crane and tower operator afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median crane and tower operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dallas, TX
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $212,810
- Air Traffic Controller — $186,510
- Commercial Pilot — $160,160
- Transportation Inspector — $126,010
- Wellhead Pumper — $78,010
- Flight Attendant — $61,100
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,260
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,530
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $56,120
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor — $53,220
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $47,960
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,230