SOC 53-7021 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Crane and Tower Operators

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$68,080

U.S. median hourly wage$32.73

U.S. employment42,890

Nationally, crane and tower operators earned a median of $68,080 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 42,890 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Crane and Tower Operators: pay and employment by state
State
Hawaii	$124,260	$59.74	190	0.3
Nevada	$115,840	$55.69	380	0.2
Rhode Island	$104,340	$50.16	Not published	Not published
Washington	$101,110	$48.61	1,030	0.3
New Jersey	$100,640	$48.39	1,000	0.2
Massachusetts	$98,150	$47.19	680	0.2
Alaska	$92,490	$44.47	50	0.2
Maryland	$87,950	$42.28	Not published	Not published
New York	$85,850	$41.27	1,150	0.1
Oregon	$83,260	$40.03	340	0.2
North Dakota	$82,890	$39.85	180	0.4
Montana	$82,800	$39.81	30	0.1
Connecticut	$81,360	$39.12	220	0.1
Minnesota	$80,930	$38.91	370	0.1
California	$79,570	$38.25	2,130	0.1
Wyoming	$77,970	$37.49	230	0.8
Colorado	$77,120	$37.08	470	0.2
Kansas	$77,100	$37.07	780	0.5
Texas	$73,280	$35.23	6,010	0.4
Vermont	$72,760	$34.98	170	0.6
Florida	$71,560	$34.40	2,570	0.3
South Dakota	$71,000	$34.13	120	0.3
Wisconsin	$67,720	$32.56	440	0.2
Iowa	$67,600	$32.50	650	0.4
Utah	$67,410	$32.41	440	0.3
Arizona	$67,350	$32.38	930	0.3
Virginia	$66,600	$32.02	1,120	0.3
Maine	$65,690	$31.58	360	0.6
Pennsylvania	$65,190	$31.34	1,630	0.3
North Carolina	$64,480	$31.00	1,050	0.2
South Carolina	$64,120	$30.83	720	0.3
Oklahoma	$63,590	$30.57	620	0.4
New Hampshire	$63,310	$30.44	170	0.3
New Mexico	$62,400	$30.00	290	0.3
Georgia	$62,050	$29.83	1,370	0.3
Kentucky	$62,000	$29.81	640	0.3
Illinois	$61,820	$29.72	1,220	0.2
Mississippi	$61,260	$29.45	550	0.5
Louisiana	$61,170	$29.41	1,930	1.0
Alabama	$60,790	$29.22	1,280	0.6
Nebraska	$60,720	$29.19	410	0.4
Delaware	$60,160	$28.92	220	0.5
Michigan	$59,740	$28.72	1,310	0.3
Tennessee	$59,410	$28.56	660	0.2
Missouri	$58,450	$28.10	630	0.2
Guam	$58,140	$27.95	50	0.7
Ohio	$57,620	$27.70	1,780	0.3
West Virginia	$54,830	$26.36	170	0.2
Indiana	$52,950	$25.46	2,300	0.7
Idaho	$52,770	$25.37	Not published	Not published
Arkansas	$41,600	$20.00	880	0.7

Pay by metro area

All 167 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Crane and Tower Operators: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$131,690	$63.31	Not published	Not published
Worcester, MA	$122,260	$58.78	110	0.3
Urban Honolulu, HI	$120,560	$57.96	170	0.4
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$120,310	$57.84	40	0.3
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$116,840	$56.17	70	1.3
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$114,330	$54.96	570	0.3
Reno, NV	$101,160	$48.64	Not published	Not published
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$100,640	$48.38	1,500	0.2
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$99,540	$47.86	180	0.1
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$99,320	$47.75	110	1.1
New Haven, CT	$99,130	$47.66	30	0.1
Reading, PA	$98,860	$47.53	60	0.3
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,410	$47.31	240	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$98,140	$47.19	500	0.2
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$97,740	$46.99	50	0.1
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$96,510	$46.40	40	0.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$92,120	$44.29	410	0.1
Springfield, MA	$90,320	$43.42	40	0.2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$89,880	$43.21	130	0.2
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$87,950	$42.28	410	0.3
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$83,040	$39.92	90	0.2
Fargo, ND-MN	$81,980	$39.41	40	0.3
Las Cruces, NM	$81,830	$39.34	50	0.6
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$81,490	$39.18	590	0.1
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$81,280	$39.08	50	0.3
Kansas City, MO-KS	$81,150	$39.02	330	0.3
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$80,880	$38.89	320	0.8
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$80,850	$38.87	170	0.3
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$80,700	$38.80	40	0.4
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$80,260	$38.59	210	0.2
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$79,970	$38.45	250	0.3
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$79,720	$38.33	210	0.1
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$79,500	$38.22	70	0.3
Midland, TX	$79,220	$38.09	150	1.3
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$78,310	$37.65	50	0.1
Wichita, KS	$78,180	$37.59	340	1.1
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$78,140	$37.57	260	0.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$78,100	$37.55	530	0.2
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$78,080	$37.54	40	0.1
Casper, WY	$77,830	$37.42	40	0.9
Lincoln, NE	$77,500	$37.26	100	0.5
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$77,490	$37.25	50	0.4
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$77,420	$37.22	370	0.3
Fresno, CA	$77,330	$37.18	50	0.1
Vallejo, CA	$77,320	$37.17	30	0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$77,200	$37.12	250	0.2
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$77,130	$37.08	50	0.2
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$77,010	$37.02	160	0.7
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$76,940	$36.99	40	0.2
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$76,750	$36.90	210	0.2
Saginaw, MI	$76,750	$36.90	30	0.4
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$76,510	$36.79	190	0.6
Tulsa, OK	$76,400	$36.73	200	0.4
Killeen-Temple, TX	$76,010	$36.54	40	0.3
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$75,760	$36.42	90	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$75,500	$36.30	2,100	0.6
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$75,360	$36.23	230	0.2
Odessa, TX	$75,310	$36.21	90	1.1
Duluth, MN-WI	$75,230	$36.17	40	0.4
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$74,700	$35.91	60	0.1
Portland-South Portland, ME	$74,650	$35.89	170	0.6
Corpus Christi, TX	$74,200	$35.68	330	1.7
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$74,130	$35.64	50	0.2
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	$74,040	$35.60	30	0.6
Green Bay, WI	$73,780	$35.47	40	0.2
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$73,710	$35.44	40	0.1
Rocky Mount, NC	$73,420	$35.30	30	0.6
Greeley, CO	$73,340	$35.26	30	0.3
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$73,050	$35.12	240	1.5
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$73,010	$35.10	40	0.1
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$72,880	$35.04	300	0.2
Savannah, GA	$72,660	$34.93	160	0.8
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$72,580	$34.89	630	0.3
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$72,520	$34.87	170	0.2
Lancaster, PA	$72,150	$34.69	80	0.3
Canton-Massillon, OH	$72,070	$34.65	110	0.7
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$72,020	$34.62	340	0.3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$72,010	$34.62	790	0.3
Ogden, UT	$71,950	$34.59	40	0.1
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$71,770	$34.51	50	0.2
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$71,400	$34.33	430	0.6
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$70,890	$34.08	50	0.4
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$70,840	$34.06	160	0.5
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$69,270	$33.30	110	0.6
Omaha, NE-IA	$68,880	$33.12	150	0.3
Wilmington, NC	$68,670	$33.02	60	0.3
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$68,640	$33.00	1,310	0.3
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$68,460	$32.91	40	0.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$68,200	$32.79	270	0.2
Winston-Salem, NC	$67,280	$32.35	100	0.4
Columbus, OH	$66,710	$32.07	120	0.1
Baton Rouge, LA	$66,680	$32.06	560	1.4
Columbia, SC	$65,870	$31.67	50	0.1
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	$65,750	$31.61	40	0.5
Mobile, AL	$65,510	$31.50	260	1.5
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$65,490	$31.49	420	0.9
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	$64,840	$31.17	50	0.5
Tucson, AZ	$64,750	$31.13	100	0.3
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$64,730	$31.12	80	0.2
Akron, OH	$64,650	$31.08	120	0.4
Jacksonville, FL	$64,600	$31.06	340	0.4
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$64,520	$31.02	140	0.9
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$64,500	$31.01	170	0.2
Evansville, IN	$64,100	$30.82	90	0.7
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$63,960	$30.75	70	0.4
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$63,780	$30.66	100	0.3
York-Hanover, PA	$63,680	$30.62	60	0.3
Jackson, MS	$63,610	$30.58	100	0.4
Winchester, VA-WV	$63,480	$30.52	40	0.6
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$63,300	$30.43	300	0.2
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$63,190	$30.38	90	0.2
Paducah, KY-IL	$63,070	$30.32	30	0.6
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$62,910	$30.25	660	0.2
El Paso, TX	$62,280	$29.94	120	0.3
Pittsburgh, PA	$61,510	$29.57	330	0.3
Waco, TX	$61,350	$29.50	50	0.4
Richmond, VA	$61,180	$29.41	170	0.3
Tallahassee, FL	$61,040	$29.35	50	0.3
Longview, TX	$60,830	$29.24	Not published	Not published
College Station-Bryan, TX	$60,520	$29.09	40	0.3
Boise City, ID	$60,440	$29.06	Not published	Not published
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$60,110	$28.90	40	0.5
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$60,010	$28.85	80	0.3
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$59,740	$28.72	650	0.3
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$59,430	$28.57	90	0.1
Jackson, TN	$59,410	$28.56	70	0.8
Oklahoma City, OK	$59,110	$28.42	150	0.2
Lafayette, LA	$58,780	$28.26	100	0.6
Knoxville, TN	$58,670	$28.21	110	0.3
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$58,370	$28.06	90	0.2
St. Cloud, MN	$57,680	$27.73	30	0.3
Cleveland, OH	$57,620	$27.70	400	0.4
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	$57,230	$27.52	300	3.5
Toledo, OH	$57,020	$27.41	120	0.4
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$56,780	$27.30	80	0.5
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$56,300	$27.07	50	0.2
Anniston-Oxford, AL	$56,010	$26.93	40	1.0
Tyler, TX	$55,930	$26.89	30	0.3
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$55,890	$26.87	1,880	0.4
Monroe, LA	$55,770	$26.81	40	0.4
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$55,000	$26.44	210	0.2
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$54,560	$26.23	230	0.4
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$54,300	$26.11	80	0.5
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$54,060	$25.99	30	0.2
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$53,600	$25.77	110	0.2
Roanoke, VA	$52,540	$25.26	40	0.3
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$51,450	$24.73	80	0.3
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$50,550	$24.30	40	0.4
Dubuque, IA	$49,720	$23.91	Not published	Not published
Monroe, MI	$49,480	$23.79	60	1.6
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$49,440	$23.77	40	0.3
Rockford, IL	$49,400	$23.75	40	0.3
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$48,920	$23.52	40	0.1
Tuscaloosa, AL	$48,870	$23.50	40	0.3
Florence, SC	$48,100	$23.12	60	0.6
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$48,060	$23.11	120	0.7
Birmingham, AL	$47,620	$22.89	310	0.6
Spartanburg, SC	$47,200	$22.69	60	0.4
Bangor, ME	$46,540	$22.38	40	0.6
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$46,430	$22.32	Not published	Not published
St. Louis, MO-IL	$46,170	$22.20	320	0.2
San Angelo, TX	$45,950	$22.09	40	0.8
Decatur, AL	$45,640	$21.94	100	1.7
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$45,280	$21.77	60	0.2
Montgomery, AL	$44,480	$21.39	40	0.3
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$44,330	$21.31	90	0.9
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$42,380	$20.37	Not published	Not published

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.