Find Trade Colleges
Crane and Tower Operators: Career Overview
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
What Tasks Do Crane and Tower Operators Perform?
The core tasks performed by crane and tower operators cover:
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
- Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful crane and tower operators draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Crane and Tower Operators Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Acid Crane Operator
- Boom Cat Operator
- Boom Crane Operator
- Boomswing Operator
- Bottom Crane Operator
- Bridge Crane Operator
- Burial Vault Deliverer and Installer
- Cantilever Crane Operator
Job Outlook
There are about 136,126 crane and tower operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.8% over the projection horizon.
Crane and Tower Operators Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $26,023 |
| Hourly median | $12.51 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $30,234 |
| 90th percentile | $34,446 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Crane and Tower Operators Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $129,930 |
| Hawaii | $115,870 |
| Oregon | $110,280 |
| New York | $110,000 |
| District of Columbia | $106,150 |
| Washington | $96,870 |
| Montana | $91,520 |
| New Jersey | $88,470 |
| Connecticut | $86,830 |
| Alaska | $80,900 |
| Michigan | $77,110 |
| Massachusetts | $76,640 |
| Wyoming | $76,110 |
| North Dakota | $74,880 |
| Colorado | $74,140 |
| Vermont | $73,840 |
| Idaho | $73,480 |
| Texas | $72,870 |
| Oklahoma | $71,500 |
| South Dakota | $70,400 |
| Florida | $70,130 |
| California | $69,970 |
| Utah | $69,020 |
| Wisconsin | $68,310 |
| Arizona | $67,960 |
| Minnesota | $67,320 |
| Georgia | $67,230 |
| Maryland | $66,800 |
| Nebraska | $66,800 |
| Virginia | $65,400 |
| Kansas | $64,430 |
| New Hampshire | $63,410 |
| Delaware | $62,820 |
| Mississippi | $62,510 |
| Ohio | $62,460 |
| North Carolina | $62,060 |
| Maine | $61,320 |
| Louisiana | $61,130 |
| New Mexico | $60,950 |
| Guam | $59,680 |
| Indiana | $57,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,760 |
| Tennessee | $56,530 |
| Iowa | $55,620 |
| South Carolina | $55,410 |
| Kentucky | $55,100 |
| West Virginia | $54,650 |
| Illinois | $53,240 |
| Alabama | $47,620 |
| Missouri | $46,580 |
| Arkansas | $42,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,620 |
Where Crane and Tower Operators Earn the Most
Earnings for crane and tower operators differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $84,605 | 8.7% | 0.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $81,321 | 10.0% | 0.72 |
| Rocky Mountains | $73,525 | 3.2% | 0.95 |
| New England | $72,053 | 3.6% | 1.22 |
| Southwest | $71,978 | 20.2% | 1.64 |
| Great Lakes | $63,132 | 16.2% | 1.27 |
| Southeast | $60,995 | 32.2% | 1.61 |
| Plains States | $60,398 | 5.7% | 1.17 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | MA | $133,820 | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $132,560 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $118,720 | 60 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $115,860 | 200 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $113,700 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $110,280 | 320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $106,010 | 470 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $104,480 | 40 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of crane and tower operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 17,600 | $78,090 |
| Manufacturing | 9,140 | $50,930 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 5,380 | $64,250 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4,270 | $46,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,520 | $53,010 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,180 | $83,670 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,120 | $77,110 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 270 | $71,500 |
Below are examples of industries where crane and tower operators work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of crane and tower operators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Crane and Tower Operators
Entry-level crane and tower operators positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Supplemental)
- Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Supplemental)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Primary-Short)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (Primary-Long)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future crane and tower operators often complete programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.