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Crane operator salary in New York

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$85,850median pay per year in New York, or $41.27 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $70,11025th percentile
  3. $85,850median
  4. $126,05075th percentile
  5. $216,500top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $68,080[3]

The median pay for crane operators in New York was $85,850 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $17,770 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in NY
1,150[4]
Rank by median pay
9 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+26.1%[6]

How much do crane operators make in New York?

The median wage for crane operators in New York was $85,850 a year, or $41.27 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more than that and half earned less. The average was higher at $115,400 a year[7]. The US median for the job was $68,080[3], so New York was 26.1% above it[6]. New York had the 9th highest median among the 50 states with a published median[5].

Compared with all jobs in New York, the median for crane operators was $26,180 higher than the $59,670 median for all occupations in the state[8][9]. The lowest-paid 10% of crane operators earned less than $49,460[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $216,500[2]. About 1,150 people worked in this job in the state[4].

Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median at $100,640[10]. Buffalo-Cheektowaga came in at $74,700 and Albany-Schenectady-Troy at $73,010[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

New York vs US pay

Pay for crane operators in New York next to the national figures[1][3].

NYUS
Median per year$85,850[1]$68,080[3]
Median per hour$41.27[1]$32.73[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$49,460[2]$42,640[13]
Top 10% earn more than$216,500[2]$103,570[13]
Jobs1,150[4]42,890[3]

Pay by metro area in New York

Metro areas in New York with the most jobs for crane operators, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[11]$100,6401,500
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$74,70060
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$73,01040

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for crane operators in the states that border New York, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[14]$100,6401,000
Massachusetts$98,150680
Connecticut$81,360220
Vermont$72,760170
Pennsylvania$65,1901,630

Median pay for crane operators in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for crane operators are projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a crane operator make in New York?
The median was $85,850 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $115,400 a year[7].
How much does a crane operator make an hour in New York?
The median was $41.27 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $23.78 an hour[17]. The 90th percentile was $104.09 an hour[17].
Which city in New York pays crane operators the most?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median at $100,640 a year[10]. This metro area crosses state lines and is counted as a whole[11].
Is New York a good state for crane operators?
New York had the 9th highest median annual wage for the job among the 50 states with a published median[5]. Its median was 26.1% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a crane operator in New York?
These are US figures, not New York ones. Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in New York was $85,850 per year and $41.27 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Crane and Tower Operators in New York: 10th percentile $49,460, 25th percentile $70,110, 75th percentile $126,050, 90th percentile $216,500. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in the US as a whole was $68,080 per year and $32.73 per hour, with about 42,890 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,150 people worked as Crane and Tower Operators in New York (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: New York had the 9th highest median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators out of the 50 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in New York ($85,850) was $17,770 (26.1%) higher than the US median ($68,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Crane and Tower Operators in New York was $115,400 per year and $55.48 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in New York was $26,180 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($59,670). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New York was $59,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 3 metro areas in or partly in New York with a published median for Crane and Tower Operators, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median annual wage, $100,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Crane and Tower Operators in the US: 10th percentile $42,640, 25th percentile $52,600, 75th percentile $83,200, 90th percentile $103,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in states that border New York (highest first): New Jersey $100,640; Massachusetts $98,150; Connecticut $81,360; Vermont $72,760; Pennsylvania $65,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Crane and Tower Operators is projected to grow 3.8% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Crane and Tower Operators in New York: 10th percentile $23.78, 25th percentile $33.71, 75th percentile $60.60, 90th percentile $104.09. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only New York. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.