Crane Operators Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$68,617
Highest Paying City
San Francisco
$96,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Crane Operators Do?
Crane Operators use their specialized trade skills to construct, renovate, and maintain buildings and infrastructure. They work with a variety of materials and tools to bring construction projects from blueprint to completion.
Most work outdoors on construction sites, often in varying weather conditions. The work is physically demanding and can be hazardous. Hours may be long during good weather or tight deadlines.
Key Skills for Crane Operators
Education Requirements
High school diploma plus apprenticeship or trade school training
Most construction trades require a high school diploma followed by an apprenticeship program (typically 3-5 years) or vocational school training. Journeyman and master certifications are available in many trades.
Career Outlook
Employment is projected to grow about as fast as average, driven by ongoing construction of buildings, roads, and infrastructure, as well as the need for renovation and maintenance of existing structures.
How to Increase Your Crane Operators Salary
- 1.Develop skills in multiple trades for greater versatility
- 2.Consider specializing in high-demand areas like green building or solar installation
- 3.Pursue supervisory training to advance to foreman or project manager
- 4.Stay current with building codes and safety regulations
- 5.Consider starting your own contracting business once you have experience
Crane Operators Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $96,000 | $100,000 | $58,000 - $125,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Jose, CA | $95,000 | $100,000 | $57,000 - $124,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $89,000 | $92,000 | $53,000 - $116,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $88,000 | $91,000 | $53,000 - $114,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $84,000 | $93,000 | $50,000 - $109,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $82,000 | $90,000 | $49,000 - $107,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $81,000 | $87,000 | $49,000 - $105,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $79,000 | $86,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $77,000 | $79,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $77,000 | $86,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $77,000 | $82,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $76,000 | $81,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $75,000 | $82,000 | $45,000 - $98,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $75,000 | $79,000 | $45,000 - $98,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $74,000 | $78,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $73,000 | $77,000 | $44,000 - $95,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $72,000 | $75,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $72,000 | $76,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $72,000 | $79,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $72,000 | $78,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $72,000 | $73,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $71,000 | $79,000 | $43,000 - $92,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $69,000 | $73,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $68,000 | $71,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $68,000 | $75,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $68,000 | $71,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $68,000 | $74,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $68,000 | $72,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $68,000 | $76,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $67,000 | $75,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $67,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $67,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $66,000 | $73,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $66,000 | $71,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,000 | $72,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $66,000 | $68,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | CAD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $65,000 | $71,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $65,000 | $71,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $64,000 | $70,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $64,000 | $71,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $64,000 | $66,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $64,000 | $70,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $64,000 | $70,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $63,000 | $68,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $63,000 | $66,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $62,000 | $69,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $62,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $62,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $61,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $61,000 | $66,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $59,000 | $62,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $57,000 | $60,000 | $37,000 - $72,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $55,000 | $61,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $54,000 | $60,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $51,000 | $53,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $51,000 | $56,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $50,000 | $52,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | CAD | Apply |