Bridge crane operator vs hot metal crane operator

The differences between bridge crane operators and hot metal 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 bridge crane operator and a hot metal crane operator. Additionally, a hot metal crane operator has an average salary of $61,860, which is higher than the $44,983 average annual salary of a bridge crane operator.

The top three skills for a bridge crane operator include cranes, OSHA and hoisting. The most important skills for a hot metal crane operator are cranes, safety procedures, and .

Bridge crane operator vs hot metal crane operator overview

	Bridge Crane Operator	Hot Metal Crane Operator
Yearly salary	$44,983	$61,860
Hourly rate	$21.63	$29.74
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	30,861	28,906
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 79%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

Bridge crane operator vs hot metal crane operator salary

Bridge crane operators and hot metal crane operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bridge Crane Operator	Hot Metal Crane Operator
Average salary	$44,983	$61,860
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $73,000	Between $33,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between bridge crane operator and hot metal crane operator education

There are a few differences between a bridge crane operator and a hot metal crane operator in terms of educational background:

	Bridge Crane Operator	Hot Metal Crane Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 79%
Most common major	General Studies	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bridge crane operator vs hot metal crane operator demographics

Here are the differences between bridge crane operators' and hot metal crane operators' demographics:

	Bridge Crane Operator	Hot Metal Crane Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2%	Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 0.7% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 0.7% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between bridge crane operator and hot metal crane operator duties and responsibilities

Bridge crane operator example responsibilities.

Coordinate all safety efforts with management to meet or exceed requirements of client specifications and OSHA regulations.
Operate Kone overhead cranes to offload railcars, load CTL line with steel coils and fix coil rows.

Hot metal crane operator example responsibilities.

Wear a variety of PPE to be safe on the job including steel toe shoes.
Charge AOD vessel with molten steel, continuous cast and bottom teeming.
Work directly with the EAF operator to safely and efficiently charge the EAF and change electrodes.
Coordinate all safety efforts with management to meet or exceed requirements of client specifications and OSHA regulations.
Involve in the training of new employees on crane operation and also working in and around the electric arc furnaces.
Operate 70-ton overhead crane in lifting/transporting coils of aluminum for production processing.

Bridge crane operator vs hot metal crane operator skills

Common bridge crane operator skills

Cranes, 34%
OSHA, 18%
Hoisting, 17%
Bulk Materials, 10%
Safety Checks, 7%
Position Loads, 6%

Common hot metal crane operator skills

Cranes, 62%
Safety Procedures, 38%

Bridge Crane Operator vs. similar jobs

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Transportation Industry
Bridge Crane Operator
Bridge Crane Operator vs Hot Metal Crane Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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