What is a Crane or Tower Operator?
Occupation Description Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Daily Life Of a Crane or Tower Operator
- Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
- Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Inspect bundle packaging for conformance to regulations or customer requirements and remove and batch packaging tickets.
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Crane or Tower Operator?
Crane and Tower Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Crane or Tower Operator
- Picker Operator
- Overhead Crane Operator
- Steel Crane Operator
- Winchman/Crane Operator
- Tower Technician
Are There Job Opportunities for Crane and Tower Operators?
In the United States, there were 46,000 jobs for Crane or Tower Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,900 new jobs for Crane or Tower Operator by 2026. There will be an estimated 5,300 positions for Crane or Tower Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Crane or Tower Operator are Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, South Dakota, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Crane or Tower Operator Make?
The typical yearly salary for Crane and Tower Operators is somewhere between $31,250 and $87,330.
Crane and Tower Operators who work in Hawaii, Alaska, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Crane and Tower Operators make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,550 |
| Alaska | $77,270 |
| Arizona | $49,730 |
| Arkansas | $38,010 |
| California | $63,850 |
| Colorado | $58,650 |
| Connecticut | $66,580 |
| Delaware | $44,820 |
| District of Columbia | $44,580 |
| Florida | $55,410 |
| Georgia | $48,790 |
| Hawaii | $82,910 |
| Idaho | $52,610 |
| Illinois | $55,930 |
| Indiana | $62,180 |
| Iowa | $55,900 |
| Kansas | $58,730 |
| Kentucky | $49,680 |
| Louisiana | $52,010 |
| Maine | $50,980 |
| Maryland | $56,200 |
| Massachusetts | $74,160 |
| Michigan | $45,220 |
| Minnesota | $55,580 |
| Mississippi | $45,180 |
| Missouri | $46,500 |
| Montana | $63,270 |
| Nebraska | $52,120 |
| Nevada | $66,390 |
| New Jersey | $69,970 |
| New Mexico | $59,950 |
| North Carolina | $48,650 |
| North Dakota | $63,450 |
| Ohio | $48,170 |
| Oklahoma | $50,140 |
| Oregon | $70,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,100 |
| South Carolina | $51,390 |
| South Dakota | $58,470 |
| Tennessee | $52,470 |
| Texas | $55,490 |
| Utah | $48,670 |
| Vermont | $50,720 |
| Virginia | $65,630 |
| Washington | $72,270 |
| West Virginia | $54,520 |
| Wisconsin | $47,240 |
| Wyoming | $60,750 |
What Tools & Technology do Crane and Tower Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Crane and Tower Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Inventory tracking software
How do I Become a Crane or Tower Operator?
Learn what Crane or Tower Operator education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a Crane or Tower Operator?
Crane and Tower Operators Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Crane or Tower Operator may also be interested in:
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
Career changers with experience as a Crane or Tower Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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