The average salary for a crane operator in the United States is around $62,240 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $62,240.
Wages typically start from $37,490 and go up to $98,490.
4% below national average Updated in 2021
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$47.35 per hour
$98,490 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$37.47 per hour
$77,930 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$29.92 per hour
$62,240 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$23.15 per hour
$48,140 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$18.02 per hour
$37,490 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Crane operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $98,910 |
| Nevada | $98,140 |
| Washington | $81,400 |
| District of Columbia | $79,260 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $76,600 |
| Wyoming | $76,600 |
| California | $76,190 |
| Colorado | $74,620 |
| Missouri | $72,440 |
| Alaska | $69,080 |
| New Mexico | $68,550 |
| North Dakota | $65,420 |
| Oregon | $63,840 |
| New Hampshire | $63,670 |
| Montana | $63,460 |
| Florida | $63,380 |
| Virginia | $63,150 |
| Idaho | $63,100 |
| Texas | $62,490 |
| Minnesota | $62,390 |
| Iowa | $62,100 |
| South Dakota | $62,100 |
| Maryland | $61,870 |
| Wisconsin | $61,870 |
| Arizona | $61,640 |
| Massachusetts | $60,590 |
| Connecticut | $60,430 |
| Utah | $60,380 |
| Vermont | $60,360 |
| North Carolina | $60,250 |
| Maine | $60,110 |
| Oklahoma | $60,110 |
| Mississippi | $59,400 |
| South Carolina | $57,920 |
| Tennessee | $56,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,870 |
| Indiana | $54,240 |
| Rhode Island | $53,650 |
| Louisiana | $53,410 |
| Illinois | $51,010 |
| Guam | $50,350 |
| Arkansas | $49,850 |
| Delaware | $49,840 |
| Michigan | $49,790 |
| Kentucky | $49,580 |
| Ohio | $49,370 |
| Nebraska | $49,150 |
| West Virginia | $48,580 |
| Alabama | $48,230 |
| Kansas | $47,040 |
| Georgia | $46,840 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,320 |
| New Jersey | $116,370 |
| New York | $103,580 |
How do crane operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Crane operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than avionics technicians but more than interior designers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Avionics technician salary | $69K |
| Boilermaker salary | $64K |
| Surveyor salary | $62K |
| Building inspector salary | $62K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $64K |
| Crane operator salary | $62K |
| Pipefitter salary | $60K |
| Plumber salary | $60K |
| Electrician salary | $60K |
| Interior designer salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)