Crane operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$36.44 per hour

$75,800 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$30.95 per hour

$64,370 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$25.11 per hour

$52,240 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:

$18.81 per hour

$39,120 per year

10th percentile

Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:

$15.86 per hour

$32,990 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 Tennessee. On average, they make less than architects but more than pipefitters.

Career Median Salary
Architect salary $74K
Building and construction inspector salary $48K
Crane operator salary $52K
Electrician salary $49K
Marine electrician salary $46K
Surveyor salary $46K
Pipefitter salary $47K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)