Crane operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$36.81 per hour

$76,570 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$31.48 per hour

$65,470 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$23.44 per hour

$48,760 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$18.12 per hour

$37,680 per year

10th percentile

Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:

$15.00 per hour

$31,190 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 6% less than similar careers in South Carolina. On average, they make less than architects but more than plumbers.

Career Median Salary
Architect salary $79K
Crane operator salary $49K
Surveyor salary $49K
HVAC technician salary $45K
Building and construction inspector salary $46K
Plumber salary $44K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)