Crane and Tower Operator Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Crane and Tower Operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $81,490 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,750 take-home, or $5,146 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median crane and tower operator salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,098
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,052
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,182
- California income tax$3,349
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,059
- Take-home pay$61,750
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Crane and Tower Operator pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,420 | $23.76 | $40,232 | $3,353 |
| 25th percentile | $76,340 | $36.70 | $58,648 | $4,887 |
| Median (50th) | $81,490 | $39.18 | $61,750 | $5,146 |
| 75th percentile | $135,430 | $65.11 | $93,706 | $7,809 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,820 | $65.30 | $93,932 | $7,828 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,490 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median crane and tower operator's $61,750 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,374 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 less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.34), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for crane and tower operators, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,490 | $61,750 | $54,374 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median crane and tower operator salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $81,490 a year, or about $39.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,340 and $135,430.
What is a crane and tower operator’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $81,490 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $61,750 a year ($5,146 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,408 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a crane and tower operator?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $68,080. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,374 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a crane and tower operator afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median crane and tower operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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