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Crane operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$68,080median pay per year, or $32.73 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,60025th percentile
  3. $68,080median
  4. $83,20075th percentile
  5. $103,570top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Crane and tower operators earned a median of $68,080 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.8%[2]
Openings per year
3,500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do crane operators make?

The median pay for a crane operator (the BLS title is Crane and Tower Operators) was $68,080 a year, or $32.73 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $72,130 a year, or $34.68 an hour[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[4].

Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,640 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $103,570[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $42,640 $20.50
25th[3][9] $52,600 $25.29
Median[1] $68,080 $32.73
75th[3][9] $83,200 $40.00
90th[3][9] $103,570 $49.79

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest state median at $124,260, followed by Nevada at $115,840 and Rhode Island at $104,340[11]. Hawaii and Nevada are small markets, with 190 and 380 jobs[11]. Arkansas was last in the list at $41,600[11].

The most jobs were in Texas (6,010), Florida (2,570) and Indiana (2,300)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Worcester, MA had the highest median at $122,260[13]. Urban Honolulu, HI came next at $120,560, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $114,330[13]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (2,100 jobs, median $75,500) and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (1,880 jobs, median $55,890)[14].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[11]$124,260190
Nevada$115,840380
Rhode Island$104,340n/a
Washington$101,1101,030
New Jersey$100,6401,000
Massachusetts$98,150680
Alaska$92,49050
Maryland$87,950n/a
New York$85,8501,150
Oregon$83,260340
North Dakota$82,890180
Montana$82,80030
Connecticut$81,360220
Minnesota$80,930370
California$79,5702,130
Wyoming$77,970230
Colorado$77,120470
Kansas$77,100780
Texas$73,2806,010
Vermont$72,760170
Florida$71,5602,570
South Dakota$71,000120
Wisconsin$67,720440
Iowa$67,600650
Utah$67,410440
Arizona$67,350930
Virginia$66,6001,120
Maine$65,690360
Pennsylvania$65,1901,630
North Carolina$64,4801,050
South Carolina$64,120720
Oklahoma$63,590620
New Hampshire$63,310170
New Mexico$62,400290
Georgia$62,0501,370
Kentucky$62,000640
Illinois$61,8201,220
Mississippi$61,260550
Louisiana$61,1701,930
Alabama$60,7901,280
Nebraska$60,720410
Delaware$60,160220
Michigan$59,7401,310
Tennessee$59,410660
Missouri$58,450630
Ohio$57,6201,780
West Virginia$54,830170
Indiana$52,9502,300
Idaho$52,770n/a
Arkansas$41,600880

How to become a crane operator

BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:

In an ONET survey of 29 workers, 61% said a post-secondary certificate was the education level required, and 32% said a high school diploma or equivalent[21]. ONET also places the job in Job Zone Three, where earlier work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[22].

The training details above come from a Handbook profile that covers a wider group of material moving machine operators, not only crane operators[23].

What crane operators do

Crane operators run lifting equipment that uses a boom and cable or a tower and cable to move loads[24]. Common tasks include[25]:

Workers report job titles such as overhead crane operator, port crane operator and mobile crane operator[26].

Where they work

This part also comes from the wider Handbook profile on material moving machine operators[23]. These workers work both indoors and outdoors in a range of industries[27]. Warehousing and storage is the largest employer, at 33% of the group[28]. Full-time work is common, some work more than 40 hours a week, and some work overnight shifts because materials ship around the clock[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of crane and tower operators to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 42,900 to 44,500 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[30]. That puts this job close to the average.

BLS expects about 3,500 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that appear when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.2% move to a different occupation[31].

The wage survey counted about 42,890 wage and salary jobs in May 2025 and leaves out the self-employed[32]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the job needs a high school diploma rather than a degree[1][4][6]. The way in is not quick. BLS lists related work experience of less than 5 years, then training that may last several months[6][17]. Pay also ranges widely, from $42,640 at the 10th percentile to $103,570 at the 90th[3]. Where you live matters too, since state medians run from $41,600 to $124,260[11]. Growth is close to average, and openings from retirements and job changes add to new jobs[2][30][5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a crane operator make an hour?
The median was $32.73 an hour in May 2025 and the average was $34.68[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $20.50 and the 90th was $49.79[9].
How long does it take to become a crane operator?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training and less than 5 years of related experience[6]. Learning cranes may take several months[17].
What education do you need to be a crane operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[6]. Some states and cities also require a license[19].
Are crane operators in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 3,500 openings a year[2][30][5].
What is the highest paying state for crane operators?
Hawaii, with a median of $124,260, then Nevada at $115,840 and Rhode Island at $104,340[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in the US was $68,080 per year and $32.73 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Crane and Tower Operators is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 42,900 to 44,500 jobs (a change of +1,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Crane and Tower Operators: 10th percentile $42,640, 25th percentile $52,600, 75th percentile $83,200, 90th percentile $103,570. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,500 openings for Crane and Tower Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Crane and Tower Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Crane and Tower Operators was $72,130 per year and $34.68 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Crane and Tower Operators: 10th percentile $20.50, 25th percentile $25.29, 75th percentile $40.00, 90th percentile $49.79. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Crane and Tower Operators jobs: Texas 6,010; Florida 2,570; Indiana 2,300; California 2,130; Louisiana 1,930. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Worcester, MA $122,260; Urban Honolulu, HI $120,560; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $114,330; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $100,640; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $99,540; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $99,320; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $98,410; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $98,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Crane and Tower Operators jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,100 (median $75,500); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,880 (median $55,890); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,500 (median $100,640); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,310 (median $68,640); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 790 (median $72,010); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 660 (median $62,910). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 53-7021.00 survey of workers (29 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 61%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 32%, Less than a High School Diploma 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 53-7021.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  23. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Material Moving Machine Operators" covers Crane and Tower Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Crane and Tower Operators. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Crane and Tower Operators. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 53-7021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Crane Operator, Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Machine Operator, Mobile Crane Operator, Overhead Crane Operator, Port Crane Operator, Scrap Crane Operator. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of material moving machine operators in 2025: Warehousing and storage 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Crane and Tower Operators: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 42,890 people were employed as Crane and Tower Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.