Crane and Tower Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for crane and tower operators in the U.S. is $68,080 ($32.73 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $68,080
- Mean annual wage
- $72,130
- Median hourly wage
- $32.73
- Employment
- 42,890
42,890 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| 25th percentile | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Median (50th) | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| 75th percentile | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| 90th percentile | $103,570 | $49.79 |
Highest-paying states for crane and tower operators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124,260 | 190 |
| Nevada | $115,840 | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | — |
| Washington | $101,110 | 1,030 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | 680 |
| Alaska | $92,490 | 50 |
| Maryland | $87,950 | — |
| New York | $85,850 | 1,150 |
| Oregon | $83,260 | 340 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $41,600 median annual wage
- Idaho: $52,770 median annual wage
- Indiana: $52,950 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $54,830 median annual wage
- Ohio: $57,620 median annual wage
About this occupation
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Typical tasks
- Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 13.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 51.5% |
| Some college, no degree | 23.4% |
| Associate's degree | 7.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 3.4% |
| Master's degree | 0.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
- Driver/Sales Workers$38,770
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.