Crane operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$49.67 per hour

$103,310 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$48.79 per hour

$101,490 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$47.55 per hour

$98,910 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$40.51 per hour

$84,260 per year

10th percentile

Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:

$36.17 per hour

$75,230 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Crane operator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Hawaii $98,910
Nevada $98,140
Washington $81,400
District of Columbia $79,260
Virgin Islands, U.S. $76,600
Wyoming $76,600
California $76,190
Colorado $74,620
Missouri $72,440
Alaska $69,080
New Mexico $68,550
North Dakota $65,420
Oregon $63,840
New Hampshire $63,670
Montana $63,460
Florida $63,380
Virginia $63,150
Idaho $63,100
Texas $62,490
Minnesota $62,390
Iowa $62,100
South Dakota $62,100
Maryland $61,870
Wisconsin $61,870
Arizona $61,640
Massachusetts $60,590
Connecticut $60,430
Utah $60,380
Vermont $60,360
North Carolina $60,250
Maine $60,110
Oklahoma $60,110
Mississippi $59,400
South Carolina $57,920
Tennessee $56,180
Pennsylvania $55,870
Indiana $54,240
Rhode Island $53,650
Louisiana $53,410
Illinois $51,010
Guam $50,350
Arkansas $49,850
Delaware $49,840
Michigan $49,790
Kentucky $49,580
Ohio $49,370
Nebraska $49,150
West Virginia $48,580
Alabama $48,230
Kansas $47,040
Georgia $46,840
Puerto Rico $26,320
New Jersey $116,370
New York $103,580

How do crane operator salaries compare to similar careers?

Crane operators earn about the same as related careers in Hawaii. On average, they make less than construction managers but more than drywall installers.

Career Median Salary
Construction manager salary $101K
Crane operator salary $99K
Architect salary $80K
Urban planner salary $82K
Ironworker salary $94K
Drywall installer salary $79K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)