How Much Does a Crane Operator Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$68,080
Crane operators in the U.S. earn a median of $68,080 a year, or $32.73 an hour. Half of crane operators earn more than $68,080 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $103,570.
Pay percentiles for crane operators
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.50 | $42,640 |
| 25th | $25.29 | $52,600 |
| 50th (median) | $32.73 | $68,080 |
| 75th | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| 90th | $49.79 | $103,570 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Crane and Tower Operators (SOC 53-7021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for crane operators
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124,260 | $59.74 | +83% |
| Nevada | $115,840 | $55.69 | +70% |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 | $50.16 | +53% |
| Washington | $101,110 | $48.61 | +49% |
| New Jersey | $100,640 | $48.39 | +48% |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 | $47.19 | +44% |
| Alaska | $92,490 | $44.47 | +36% |
| Maryland | $87,950 | $42.28 | +29% |
| New York | $85,850 | $41.27 | +26% |
| Oregon | $83,260 | $40.03 | +22% |
| United States | $68,080 | $32.73 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many crane operators are there?
BLS counts about 42,890 crane operators employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Crane and Tower Operators”. The most jobs are in Texas (6,010), Florida (2,570) and Indiana (2,300).
The mean (average) annual wage is $72,130, higher than the median of $68,080.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,673
- Biweekly
- $2,618
- Weekly
- $1,309
- Daily (8 hours)
- $262
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do crane operators make an hour?
The median hourly wage for crane operators is $32.73. The middle 50% earn between $25.29 and $40.00 an hour.
Which state pays crane operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for crane operators at $124,260, +83% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for crane operators?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of crane operators earn less than $42,640 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.