The average salary for a crane operator in California is around $63,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $63,280.
Wages typically start from $29,830 and go up to $101,280.
15% below national average Updated in 2018
Crane operator earnings by seniority
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$48.69 per hour
$101,280 per year
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$39.51 per hour
$82,190 per year
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$30.43 per hour
$63,280 per year
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$20.03 per hour
$41,660 per year
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$14.34 per hour
$29,830 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Crane operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $94,060 |
| 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 |
| Virginia | $60,990 |
| Massachusetts | $59,670 |
| Wyoming | $59,240 |
| New Mexico | $59,200 |
| South Dakota | $57,390 |
| Maryland | $57,090 |
| Florida | $55,700 |
| Iowa | $54,960 |
| Kansas | $54,890 |
| Texas | $54,310 |
| Rhode Island | $53,650 |
| Colorado | $53,520 |
| Indiana | $53,180 |
| Idaho | $53,150 |
| Maine | $52,770 |
| Tennessee | $52,240 |
| West Virginia | $51,970 |
| Utah | $51,170 |
| Georgia | $50,960 |
| Vermont | $50,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,052 |
| Nebraska | $49,880 |
| Kentucky | $49,680 |
| Louisiana | $49,520 |
| Alabama | $49,200 |
| Oklahoma | $48,760 |
| South Carolina | $48,760 |
| Minnesota | $48,500 |
| North Carolina | $48,470 |
| Illinois | $48,070 |
| Arizona | $47,380 |
| Delaware | $44,340 |
| New Hampshire | $44,060 |
| Ohio | $44,030 |
| Mississippi | $43,840 |
| Michigan | $43,600 |
| Wisconsin | $43,520 |
| Guam | $41,560 |
| Missouri | $40,830 |
| Arkansas | $36,660 |
| District of Columbia | $31,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,610 |
How do crane operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Crane operators earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than marine electricians but more than drywall and ceiling tile installers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Marine electrician salary | $74K |
| Electrician salary | $64K |
| Commercial diver salary | $57K |
| Explosives worker salary | $69K |
| Ironworker salary | $67K |
| Crane operator salary | $63K |
| Carpenter salary | $57K |
| Plumber salary | $56K |
| Pipefitter salary | $56K |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installer salary | $56K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)




