Crane and Tower Operator Salary in Seattle, WA
Crane and Tower Operators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $114,330 a year — 68% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,261 take-home, or $7,438 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median crane and tower operator salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,088
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,658
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$89,261
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Crane and Tower Operator pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,320 | $30.44 | $53,058 | $4,421 |
| 25th percentile | $80,000 | $38.46 | $65,110 | $5,426 |
| Median (50th) | $114,330 | $54.97 | $89,261 | $7,438 |
| 75th percentile | $124,520 | $59.87 | $96,375 | $8,031 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,210 | $65.00 | $103,682 | $8,640 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $114,330 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median crane and tower operator's $89,261 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,319 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for crane and tower operators, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median crane and tower operator salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $114,330 a year, or about $54.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,000 and $124,520.
What is a crane and tower operator’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $114,330 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $89,261 a year ($7,438 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a crane and tower operator?
Pay here is 68% above the national median of $68,080. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,319 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a crane and tower operator afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 27% 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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