Crane and Tower Operators in Kentucky

Considering a career as a Crane or Tower Operator in Kentucky?

You’re in luck! Jobs for Crane and Tower Operators in Kentucky are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

• Projected employment for Crane and Tower Operators in Kentucky is growing faster than average.

• Crane and Tower Operators in Kentucky earn higher salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For a Crane or Tower Operator Career?

• Transportation & Materials Moving
• Ground Transportation
• Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
• Mobil Crane Operation/Operator

How Many Crane and Tower Operators Work in Kentucky?

770 people worked as Crane and Tower Operators in 2018 in this state.

There were 670 Crane and Tower Operators employed in this state in 2017.

That’s growth of 100 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 590 Crane and Tower Operators working in it, which means Kentucky has more Crane and Tower Operators than average.

Job Projections for Kentucky

Jobs for Crane and Tower Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 9.6% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 8.5%.

Kentucky Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates there will be 90 annual job openings, and 800 total jobs in 2026 for Crane and Tower Operators in this state.

Nationwide, the prediction is 5,300 annual jobs and 49,900 total jobs in 2026.

What do Crane and Tower Operators Make in Kentucky?

In 2018 wages for Crane and Tower Operators ranged from $28,940 to $73,190 with $48,950 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $13.91 to $35.19. The median hourly rate was $23.53.

Workers in this field were paid a median of $21.85 an hour in 2017.

The hourly rate grew by $1.68.

The median salary in Kentucky is higher than the nationwide median salary.

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Top Kentucky Metros for Crane and Tower Operators

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Crane and Tower Operators.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	200	$47,310
Evansville, IN-KY	180	n/a
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	180	$34,500
Lexington-Fayette, KY	160	$55,140
Owensboro, KY	110	$50,060
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	60	$45,730
Bowling Green, KY	40	$47,380

Top States for Crane and Tower Operators Employment

View the list below to see where most Crane and Tower Operators work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Texas	5,850	$54,310
California	3,310	$63,280
Pennsylvania	3,140	$46,710
Louisiana	2,890	$49,520
Florida	2,560	$55,700
Indiana	2,080	$53,180
Illinois	1,730	$48,070
Ohio	1,720	$44,030
Virginia	1,510	$60,990
Washington	1,350	$72,310
New York	1,260	$0
Michigan	1,080	$43,600
Alabama	1,030	$49,200
North Carolina	930	$48,470
Georgia	850	$50,960
Oregon	810	$69,560
Iowa	800	$54,960
Kentucky	770	$48,950
New Jersey	760	$69,860
Tennessee	690	$52,240

Below are the states where Crane and Tower Operators get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
Hawaii	$86,230
Alaska	$81,000
Washington	$72,310
Nevada	$70,040
New Jersey	$69,860
Oregon	$69,560
Montana	$66,080
Connecticut	$65,120
California	$63,280
North Dakota	$61,660

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies.