Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$65,017
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$91,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Crane and Tower Operators Do?
Crane and Tower Operators transport people and goods safely and efficiently across roads, railways, waterways, and airways. They operate vehicles, manage logistics, and ensure that deliveries arrive on time.
Work settings include vehicles, warehouses, airports, ports, and railyards. Hours are often long and irregular, with many roles requiring overnight travel or shift work. Physical demands vary by position.
Key Skills for Crane and Tower Operators
Education Requirements
High school diploma; commercial driver's license (CDL) or specialized training
Requirements vary by role. Truck drivers need a CDL. Airline pilots require an ATP certificate and extensive flight hours. Railroad engineers need on-the-job training. Material movers typically need a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
Career Outlook
Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, with particularly strong demand for truck drivers and delivery workers driven by e-commerce growth.
How to Increase Your Crane and Tower Operators Salary
- 1.Maintain a clean driving record and safety certifications
- 2.Consider specialized endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples)
- 3.Develop logistics and route optimization skills
- 4.Stay current with transportation regulations and safety standards
- 5.Consider owner-operator status for higher earning potential
Crane and Tower Operators Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $91,000 | $100,000 | $55,000 - $118,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $88,000 | $96,000 | $53,000 - $114,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $84,000 | $91,000 | $50,000 - $109,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $82,000 | $84,000 | $49,000 - $107,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $82,000 | $87,000 | $49,000 - $107,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $80,000 | $84,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $79,000 | $86,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $75,000 | $79,000 | $45,000 - $98,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $75,000 | $83,000 | $45,000 - $98,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $73,000 | $76,000 | $44,000 - $95,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $73,000 | $82,000 | $44,000 - $95,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $72,000 | $75,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $72,000 | $79,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $72,000 | $80,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $71,000 | $74,000 | $43,000 - $92,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $70,000 | $73,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $68,000 | $72,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $68,000 | $71,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $68,000 | $72,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $67,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $67,000 | $72,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $67,000 | $72,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $67,000 | $70,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $66,000 | $68,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $65,000 | $70,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $64,000 | $66,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $64,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $64,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $63,000 | $66,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $63,000 | $65,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $63,000 | $68,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $63,000 | $65,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $62,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $62,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $62,000 | $69,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $62,000 | $67,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $62,000 | $64,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $61,000 | $66,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $61,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $61,000 | $63,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $60,000 | $63,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $60,000 | $65,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $60,000 | $64,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $60,000 | $64,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $60,000 | $62,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $60,000 | $63,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $59,000 | $64,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $59,000 | $64,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $57,000 | $60,000 | $37,000 - $72,000 | USD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $57,000 | $60,000 | $37,000 - $72,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $55,000 | $57,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $55,000 | $59,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $52,000 | $53,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $50,000 | $53,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $48,000 | $52,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $47,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $46,000 | $49,000 | $30,000 - $58,000 | CAD | Apply |