Crane and Tower Operators Salary in the United States
Median annual wage: $68,080 · Median hourly: $32.73 · Employment: 42,890
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| 25th | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Median | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| 75th | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| 90th | $103,570 | $49.79 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 53-7021
- Total U.S. employment: 42,890
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $42,640, median pay is $68,080, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $103,570.
At $32.73 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $68,078 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $68,080.
Crane and Tower Operators Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,790 | $29.22 | -10.7% | 1,280 |
| Alaska | $92,490 | $44.47 | +35.9% | 50 |
| Arizona | $67,350 | $32.38 | -1.1% | 930 |
| Arkansas | $41,600 | $20.00 | -38.9% | 880 |
| California | $79,570 | $38.25 | +16.9% | 2,130 |
| Colorado | $77,120 | $37.08 | +13.3% | 470 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 | $39.12 | +19.5% | 220 |
| Delaware | $60,160 | $28.92 | -11.6% | 220 |
| Florida | $71,560 | $34.40 | +5.1% | 2,570 |
| Georgia | $62,050 | $29.83 | -8.9% | 1,370 |
| Hawaii | $124,260 | $59.74 | +82.5% | 190 |
| Idaho | $52,770 | $25.37 | -22.5% | 0 |
| Illinois | $61,820 | $29.72 | -9.2% | 1,220 |
| Indiana | $52,950 | $25.46 | -22.2% | 2,300 |
| Iowa | $67,600 | $32.50 | -0.7% | 650 |
| Kansas | $77,100 | $37.07 | +13.2% | 780 |
| Kentucky | $62,000 | $29.81 | -8.9% | 640 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 | $29.41 | -10.1% | 1,930 |
| Maine | $65,690 | $31.58 | -3.5% | 360 |
| Maryland | $87,950 | $42.28 | +29.2% | 0 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | $47.19 | +44.2% | 680 |
| Michigan | $59,740 | $28.72 | -12.3% | 1,310 |
| Minnesota | $80,930 | $38.91 | +18.9% | 370 |
| Mississippi | $61,260 | $29.45 | -10.0% | 550 |
| Missouri | $58,450 | $28.10 | -14.1% | 630 |
| Montana | $82,800 | $39.81 | +21.6% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $60,720 | $29.19 | -10.8% | 410 |
| Nevada | $115,840 | $55.69 | +70.2% | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $63,310 | $30.44 | -7.0% | 170 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | $48.39 | +47.8% | 1,000 |
| New Mexico | $62,400 | $30.00 | -8.3% | 290 |
| New York | $85,850 | $41.27 | +26.1% | 1,150 |
| North Carolina | $64,480 | $31.00 | -5.3% | 1,050 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 | $39.85 | +21.8% | 180 |
| Ohio | $57,620 | $27.70 | -15.4% | 1,780 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 | $30.57 | -6.6% | 620 |
| Oregon | $83,260 | $40.03 | +22.3% | 340 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,190 | $31.34 | -4.2% | 1,630 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | $50.16 | +53.3% | 0 |
| South Carolina | $64,120 | $30.83 | -5.8% | 720 |
| South Dakota | $71,000 | $34.13 | +4.3% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $59,410 | $28.56 | -12.7% | 660 |
| Texas | $73,280 | $35.23 | +7.6% | 6,010 |
| Utah | $67,410 | $32.41 | -1.0% | 440 |
| Vermont | $72,760 | $34.98 | +6.9% | 170 |
| Virginia | $66,600 | $32.02 | -2.2% | 1,120 |
| Washington | $101,110 | $48.61 | +48.5% | 1,030 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 | $26.36 | -19.5% | 170 |
| Wisconsin | $67,720 | $32.56 | -0.5% | 440 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 | $37.49 | +14.5% | 230 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
Related Occupations
- Software Developers — $135,980/yr
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,590/yr
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- Nursing Assistants — $42,260/yr
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $69,500/yr
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,780/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for crane and tower operators?
The median annual wage for crane and tower operators is $68,080 ($32.73 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.
Which state pays crane and tower operators the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many crane and tower operators are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 42,890 crane and tower operators employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do crane and tower operators make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $32.73. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.