Boom operator vs tower crane operator

The differences between boom operators and tower crane operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a boom operator and a tower crane operator. Additionally, a tower crane operator has an average salary of $44,595, which is higher than the $38,499 average annual salary of a boom operator.

The top three skills for a boom operator include building materials, boom truck and CDL. The most important skills for a tower crane operator are cranes, hoisting, and hand signals.

Boom operator vs tower crane operator overview

	Boom Operator	Tower Crane Operator
Yearly salary	$38,499	$44,595
Hourly rate	$18.51	$21.44
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	31,804	30,816
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	High School Diploma, 47%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

Boom operator vs tower crane operator salary

Boom operators and tower crane operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Boom Operator	Tower Crane Operator
Average salary	$38,499	$44,595
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $57,000	Between $26,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between boom operator and tower crane operator education

There are a few differences between a boom operator and a tower crane operator in terms of educational background:

	Boom Operator	Tower Crane Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	High School Diploma, 47%
Most common major	Photography	Business
Most common college	-	-

Boom operator vs tower crane operator demographics

Here are the differences between boom operators' and tower crane operators' demographics:

	Boom Operator	Tower Crane Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8%	Male, 99.3% Female, 0.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 0.7% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 0.7% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between boom operator and tower crane operator duties and responsibilities

Boom operator example responsibilities.

Operate various boom cranes to deliver building materials to residential and commercial construction sites.
Prepare for rigging and hoisting.
Fix cab crane operator and CDL driver dump truck.
Make sure all crewmembers are wearing PPE, and also securement of job site
Direct activities of workers placing blocks and outriggers to prevent capsizing when lifting heavy loads.
Make sure enough spotters or swampers are adequate with the amount of equipment is being run.

Tower crane operator example responsibilities.

Train and supervise other employees to achieve significant improvements in their crane operating productivity.
Inspect mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, grappling devices, and lifting accessories in order to prevent malfunctions and damage.
Coordinate all safety efforts with management to meet or exceed requirements of client specifications and OSHA regulations.
Set aluminum panels to pour concrete foundation.

Boom operator vs tower crane operator skills

Common boom operator skills

Building Materials, 27%
Boom Truck, 21%
CDL, 13%
DOT, 8%
Audio Equipment, 5%
Construction Materials, 3%

Common tower crane operator skills

Cranes, 55%
Hoisting, 25%
Hand Signals, 8%
Pulleys, 4%
Construction Materials, 4%
Building Materials, 3%

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Transportation Industry
Boom Operator
Boom Operator vs Tower Crane Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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