Best states for a crane operator

Q: What is the best state for crane operators?

The best state to be a crane operator is New Jersey based on crane operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for crane operators?

The highest paying state for crane operators is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for crane operators?

The worst state for crane operators is Illinois, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for crane operators? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for crane operator jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that New Jersey is the best state in the country for crane operators.

New Jersey is the best state for jobs for crane operators, and Illinois is the worst. The most common pay in New Jersey is $59,726, while the median pay in Illinois is $39,675.We found that the Midwest is best for crane operators, and the West is the worst. Vancouver, WA is the best city in the country for crane operator jobs, where as New Jersey is the best state in the country.

10 best states for crane operators in 2025

1. New Jersey
Total crane operator jobs: 884
Average annual salary: $59,726
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
5.13
Crane operator jobs in New Jersey
2. Iowa
Total crane operator jobs: 70
Average annual salary: $56,069
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Crane operator jobs in Iowa
3. Utah
Total crane operator jobs: 62
Average annual salary: $52,935
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Crane operator jobs in Utah
4. Washington
Total crane operator jobs: 72
Average annual salary: $75,464
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
0.45
Crane operator jobs in Washington
5. California
Total crane operator jobs: 297
Average annual salary: $70,663
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
0.47
Crane operator jobs in California
6. New York
Total crane operator jobs: 77
Average annual salary: $70,189
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
0.28
Crane operator jobs in New York
7. Arizona
Total crane operator jobs: 57
Average annual salary: $59,964
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
0.45
Crane operator jobs in Arizona
8. Mississippi
Total crane operator jobs: 48
Average annual salary: $49,895
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Crane operator jobs in Mississippi
9. Colorado
Total crane operator jobs: 66
Average annual salary: $57,295
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
0.51
Crane operator jobs in Colorado
10. North Dakota
Total crane operator jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $52,418
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
0.84
Crane operator jobs in North Dakota

Crane operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a crane operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a crane operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Jersey	$59,726	$38,000	9,005,644	884
2	Iowa	$56,069	$38,000	3,145,711	70
3	Utah	$52,935	$36,000	3,101,833	62
4	Washington	$75,464	$54,000	7,405,743	72
5	California	$70,663	$46,000	39,536,653	297
6	New York	$70,189	$45,000	19,849,399	77
7	Arizona	$59,964	$39,000	7,016,270	57
8	Mississippi	$49,895	$31,000	2,984,100	48
9	Colorado	$57,295	$39,000	5,607,154	66
10	North Dakota	$52,418	$41,000	755,393	17
11	West Virginia	$58,230	$37,000	1,815,857	8
12	Rhode Island	$49,244	$32,000	1,059,639	153
13	Louisiana	$51,952	$32,000	4,684,333	46
14	Virginia	$55,557	$35,000	8,470,020	108
15	Indiana	$50,831	$34,000	6,666,818	89
16	Alaska	$52,160	$45,000	739,795	95
17	South Carolina	$48,442	$31,000	5,024,369	126
18	Montana	$49,738	$38,000	1,050,493	93
19	Oregon	$53,343	$36,000	4,142,776	42
20	Maryland	$56,055	$35,000	6,052,177	71
21	Nebraska	$49,372	$34,000	1,920,076	32
22	Delaware	$51,029	$32,000	961,939	18
23	Idaho	$47,613	$33,000	1,716,943	52
24	Oklahoma	$48,848	$32,000	3,930,864	34
25	Massachusetts	$48,181	$31,000	6,859,819	1,213
26	Tennessee	$46,103	$30,000	6,715,984	110
27	Texas	$48,217	$30,000	28,304,596	349
28	Arkansas	$47,770	$31,000	3,004,279	32
29	District of Columbia	$49,233	$31,000	693,972	127
30	Maine	$47,232	$32,000	1,335,907	23
31	Georgia	$47,975	$30,000	10,429,379	191
32	Hawaii	$48,183	$41,000	1,427,538	95
33	Wyoming	$46,511	$33,000	579,315	9
34	South Dakota	$49,152	$35,000	869,666	2
35	New Mexico	$47,892	$30,000	2,088,070	20
36	Connecticut	$50,620	$32,000	3,588,184	11
37	Ohio	$44,467	$29,000	11,658,609	172
38	North Carolina	$45,909	$29,000	10,273,419	147
39	Florida	$47,131	$29,000	20,984,400	231
40	Wisconsin	$45,707	$31,000	5,795,483	62
41	Nevada	$45,812	$29,000	2,998,039	31
42	New Hampshire	$46,643	$31,000	1,342,795	20
43	Minnesota	$47,814	$34,000	5,576,606	65
44	Pennsylvania	$42,851	$27,000	12,805,537	219
45	Kansas	$37,795	$25,000	2,913,123	58
46	Alabama	$37,371	$24,000	4,874,747	82
47	Kentucky	$38,372	$25,000	4,454,189	66
48	Missouri	$43,303	$29,000	6,113,532	60
49	Vermont	$44,542	$30,000	623,657	2
50	Michigan	$40,904	$26,000	9,962,311	64
51	Illinois	$39,675	$26,000	12,802,023	116

Highest paying states for crane operators

Rank	State	Avg. Crane Operator Salary
1	New Jersey	$59,726
2	Iowa	$56,069
3	Utah	$52,935
4	Washington	$75,464
5	California	$70,663
6	New York	$70,189
7	Arizona	$59,964
8	Mississippi	$49,895
9	Colorado	$57,295
10	North Dakota	$52,418
11	West Virginia	$58,230
12	Rhode Island	$49,244
13	Louisiana	$51,952
14	Virginia	$55,557
15	Indiana	$50,831
16	Alaska	$52,160
17	South Carolina	$48,442
18	Montana	$49,738
19	Oregon	$53,343
20	Maryland	$56,055
21	Nebraska	$49,372
22	Delaware	$51,029
23	Idaho	$47,613
24	Oklahoma	$48,848
25	Massachusetts	$48,181
26	Tennessee	$46,103
27	Texas	$48,217
28	Arkansas	$47,770
29	District of Columbia	$49,233
30	Maine	$47,232
31	Georgia	$47,975
32	Hawaii	$48,183
33	Wyoming	$46,511
34	South Dakota	$49,152
35	New Mexico	$47,892
36	Connecticut	$50,620
37	Ohio	$44,467
38	North Carolina	$45,909
39	Florida	$47,131
40	Wisconsin	$45,707
41	Nevada	$45,812
42	New Hampshire	$46,643
43	Minnesota	$47,814
44	Pennsylvania	$42,851
45	Kansas	$37,795
46	Alabama	$37,371
47	Kentucky	$38,372
48	Missouri	$43,303
49	Vermont	$44,542
50	Michigan	$40,904
51	Illinois	$39,675

Crane operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for crane operators?

What is the highest paying state for crane operators?

What is the worst state for crane operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.

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Crane Operator
Best states for Crane Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total crane operator jobs:	884
Average annual salary:	$59,726
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$92,000
Location Quotient:	5.13

Best states for a crane operator

10 best states for crane operators in 2025

1. New Jersey

2. Iowa

3. Utah

4. Washington

5. California

6. New York

7. Arizona

8. Mississippi

9. Colorado

10. North Dakota