SOC 537021

Crane and Tower Operators

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

National Median

$66,370

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$66,370

Entry Level (10th pct)

$41,670

Experienced (90th pct)

$102,400

Total Employed

42,000

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$41,670 - $50,970
Mid Career2-8 years experience$50,970 - $81,630
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$81,630 - $102,400

Highest Paying Locations for Crane and Tower Operators

Crane and Tower Operators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
Worcester, MA$133,820N/A
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$132,560N/A
Nevada$129,930N/A
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$118,72060
Hawaii$115,870220
Urban Honolulu, HI$115,860200
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$113,70070
Oregon$110,280460
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$110,280320
New York$110,0001,330
District of Columbia$106,15050
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$106,010470
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$104,48040
New Haven, CT$104,38050
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$102,26050
Kennewick-Richland, WA$101,980N/A
Washington$96,870890
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$94,3701,460
Syracuse, NY$91,59040
Montana$91,52090
Columbus, OH$90,090160
New Jersey$88,470740
Reno, NV$87,360N/A
Connecticut$86,830260
Lansing-East Lansing, MI$86,60060
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$84,64090
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$84,470620
Fargo, ND-MN$82,37040
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$81,11060
Alaska nonmetropolitan area$80,90030
Alaska$80,90050
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$80,440300
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$80,25040
Midland, TX$79,510190
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$79,440720
Charleston-North Charleston, SC$79,430340
Raleigh-Cary, NC$79,280180
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$78,360280
Casper, WY$77,65030
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$77,270160
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$77,23060
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$77,21060
Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area$77,110160
Michigan$77,1101,210
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area$77,11070
Wichita, KS$76,750300
Massachusetts$76,640480
Wyoming$76,110120
Terre Haute, IN$75,99030
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$75,980330

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Crane and Tower Operators?
The national median annual salary for Crane and Tower Operators is $66,370, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Crane and Tower Operatorss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Crane and Tower Operatorss is Worcester, MA, with a median salary of $133,820.
How much can an experienced Crane and Tower Operators make?
Top-earning Crane and Tower Operatorss (90th percentile) make $102,400 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.