Crane Operator salary: how much does a crane operator make?
A crane operator in the US earns a median of $68,080 a year, about $32.73 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,640 and the top 10% earn over $103,570. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Hawaii, has a median of $124,260.
Crane Operator pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a crane operator make an hour?
The median crane operator earns $32.73 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $20.50 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49.79 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Lower 25% | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Median (typical) | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| Upper 25% | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Top 10% | $103,570 | $49.79 |
Crane Operator salary by state
Median annual pay for crane operators by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,790 | $29.23 |
| Alaska | $92,490 | $44.47 |
| Arizona | $67,350 | $32.38 |
| Arkansas | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| California | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Colorado | $77,120 | $37.08 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 | $39.12 |
| Delaware | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | $71,560 | $34.40 |
| Georgia | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Hawaii | $124,260 | $59.74 |
| Idaho | $52,770 | $25.37 |
| Illinois | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Indiana | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Iowa | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| Kansas | $77,100 | $37.07 |
| Kentucky | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 | $29.41 |
| Maine | $65,690 | $31.58 |
| Maryland | $87,950 | $42.28 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | $47.19 |
| Michigan | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| Minnesota | $80,930 | $38.91 |
| Mississippi | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Missouri | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Montana | $82,800 | $39.81 |
| Nebraska | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Nevada | $115,840 | $55.69 |
| New Hampshire | $63,310 | $30.44 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | $48.38 |
| New Mexico | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| New York | $85,850 | $41.27 |
| North Carolina | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Ohio | $57,620 | $27.70 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 | $30.57 |
| Oregon | $83,260 | $40.03 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,190 | $31.34 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | $50.16 |
| South Carolina | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| South Dakota | $71,000 | $34.13 |
| Tennessee | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| Texas | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| Utah | $67,410 | $32.41 |
| Vermont | $72,760 | $34.98 |
| Virginia | $66,600 | $32.02 |
| Washington | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 | $26.36 |
| Wisconsin | $67,720 | $32.56 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 | $37.49 |
Highest-paying states for crane operators
- Hawaii: $124,260 median
- Nevada: $115,840 median
- Rhode Island: $104,340 median
- Washington: $101,110 median
- New Jersey: $100,640 median
The lowest published medians are in Arkansas ($41,600), Idaho ($52,770), Indiana ($52,950), West Virginia ($54,830), Ohio ($57,620). The most crane operator jobs are in Texas (6,010 jobs), Florida (2,570 jobs), Indiana (2,300 jobs), California (2,130 jobs), Louisiana (1,930 jobs).
How much does a crane operator make a month?
At the median salary of $68,080, a crane operator earns about $5,673 a month, $2,618 every two weeks or $1,309 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced crane operator pay
New crane operators typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,640 a year and the lowest 25% under $52,600. The top 25% earn over $83,200 and the top 10% over $103,570. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Crane Operator salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Crane operator | $68,080 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 |
| Lineman | $95,320 |
| Truck driver | $58,640 |
Crane Operator take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a crane operator make?
The US median is $68,080 a year ($32.73 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a crane operator make an hour?
The median is about $32.73 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $20.50 and the top 10% about $49.79 an hour.
Which state pays crane operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median at $124,260, followed by Nevada ($115,840) and Rhode Island ($104,340).
How much does a crane operator make a month?
At the US median of $68,080 a year, about $5,673 a month or $2,618 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level crane operator make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,640 a year and the lowest 25% under $52,600, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of crane operators make?
The top 10% earn over $103,570 a year; the top 25% earn over $83,200.
How much does a crane operator make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $79,570 in California, $73,280 in Texas, $71,560 in Florida, $85,850 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 53-7021, “Crane and Tower Operators”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.