How much does a crane operator make?
Typical yearly pay for crane and tower operators in the United States.
median pay per year, about $5,673 a month or $32.73 an hour.
That's more than 59% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #42 of 100.
Think you know what other jobs pay?
Paycheck is a free daily game: guess the pay for five jobs, see how close you got, and share your score.
Play today's PaycheckWhere it ranks
| Commercial diver | $72,990 |
| High school teacher | $72,040 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Crane operator | $68,080 |
| Wind turbine technician | $64,120 |
| Elementary school teacher | $63,970 |
| Telecom installer | $63,890 |
Similar jobs
- Wind turbine technician$64,120
- Telecom installer$63,890
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Commercial diver$72,990
- HVAC technician$61,010
How much does a crane operator make per hour?
About $32.73 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a crane operator
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
How to become a crane operator
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Crane and Tower Operators” (code 53-7021.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.