Best States For a Crane Operator

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

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. The most common schools for crane operators are University of Phoenix, University of Southern Mississippi, and Columbia Southern University, and the most common majors are business and general studies.

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. Our research put Washington at no. 1 on the list of best paying states for crane operators. California, New York, and Arizona also ranked high on our list.

Here Are the Best States for Crane Operators In 2023:

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 Ashburn, VA

11. West Virginia

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	8
Average Annual Salary:	$58,230
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$37,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$89,000
Location Quotient:	0.24

Crane Operator Jobs in West Virginia

12. Rhode Island

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	153
Average Annual Salary:	$49,244
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	5.81

Crane Operator Jobs in Rhode Island

13. Louisiana

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	46
Average Annual Salary:	$51,952
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$81,000
Location Quotient:	0.66

Crane Operator Jobs in Louisiana

14. Virginia

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	108
Average Annual Salary:	$55,557
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$86,000
Location Quotient:	0.53

Crane Operator Jobs in Virginia

15. Indiana

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	89
Average Annual Salary:	$50,831
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$75,000
Location Quotient:	0.62

Crane Operator Jobs in Indiana

16. Alaska

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	95
Average Annual Salary:	$52,160
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$45,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$59,000
Location Quotient:	5.25

Crane Operator Jobs in Alaska

17. South Carolina

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	126
Average Annual Salary:	$48,442
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$75,000
Location Quotient:	1.3

Crane Operator Jobs in South Carolina

18. Montana

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	93
Average Annual Salary:	$49,738
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$38,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$64,000
Location Quotient:	3.72

Crane Operator Jobs in Montana

19. Oregon

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	42
Average Annual Salary:	$53,343
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$77,000
Location Quotient:	0.47

Crane Operator Jobs in Oregon

20. Maryland

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	71
Average Annual Salary:	$56,055
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$87,000
Location Quotient:	0.52

Crane Operator Jobs in Maryland

Crane Operator Jobs In The Top 10 States

Find the best Crane Operator job for you

21. Nebraska

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	32
Average Annual Salary:	$49,372
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$70,000
Location Quotient:	0.66

Crane Operator Jobs in Nebraska

22. Delaware

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	18
Average Annual Salary:	$51,029
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$79,000
Location Quotient:	0.66

Crane Operator Jobs in Delaware

23. Idaho

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	52
Average Annual Salary:	$47,613
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$67,000
Location Quotient:	1.46

Crane Operator Jobs in Idaho

24. Oklahoma

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	34
Average Annual Salary:	$48,848
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	0.51

Crane Operator Jobs in Oklahoma

25. Massachusetts

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	1,213
Average Annual Salary:	$48,181
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$72,000
Location Quotient:	6.09

Crane Operator Jobs in Massachusetts

26. Tennessee

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	110
Average Annual Salary:	$46,103
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$70,000
Location Quotient:	0.86

Crane Operator Jobs in Tennessee

27. Texas

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	349
Average Annual Salary:	$48,217
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$76,000
Location Quotient:	0.8

Crane Operator Jobs in Texas

28. Arkansas

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	32
Average Annual Salary:	$47,770
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$72,000
Location Quotient:	0.56

Crane Operator Jobs in Arkansas

29. District of Columbia

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	127
Average Annual Salary:	$49,233
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$76,000
Location Quotient:	3.49

Crane Operator Jobs in District of Columbia

30. Maine

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	23
Average Annual Salary:	$47,232
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$68,000
Location Quotient:	0.8

Crane Operator Jobs in Maine

31. Georgia

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	191
Average Annual Salary:	$47,975
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	0.85

Crane Operator Jobs in Georgia

32. Hawaii

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	95
Average Annual Salary:	$48,183
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$41,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$55,000
Location Quotient:	5.23

Crane Operator Jobs in Hawaii

33. Wyoming

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	9
Average Annual Salary:	$46,511
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$64,000
Location Quotient:	0.69

Crane Operator Jobs in Wyoming

34. South Dakota

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	2
Average Annual Salary:	$49,152
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$67,000
Location Quotient:	0.09

Crane Operator Jobs in South Dakota

35. New Mexico

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	20
Average Annual Salary:	$47,892
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	0.47

Crane Operator Jobs in New Mexico

36. Connecticut

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	11
Average Annual Salary:	$50,620
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$77,000
Location Quotient:	0.15

Crane Operator Jobs in Connecticut

37. Ohio

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	172
Average Annual Salary:	$44,467
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$68,000
Location Quotient:	0.78

Crane Operator Jobs in Ohio

38. North Carolina

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	147
Average Annual Salary:	$45,909
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$71,000
Location Quotient:	0.71

Crane Operator Jobs in North Carolina

39. Florida

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	231
Average Annual Salary:	$47,131
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	0.68

Crane Operator Jobs in Florida

40. Wisconsin

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	62
Average Annual Salary:	$45,707
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$66,000
Location Quotient:	0.52

Crane Operator Jobs in Wisconsin

41. Nevada

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	31
Average Annual Salary:	$45,812
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$70,000
Location Quotient:	0.68

Crane Operator Jobs in Nevada

42. New Hampshire

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	20
Average Annual Salary:	$46,643
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$69,000
Location Quotient:	0.53

Crane Operator Jobs in New Hampshire

43. Minnesota

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	65
Average Annual Salary:	$47,814
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$65,000
Location Quotient:	0.45

Crane Operator Jobs in Minnesota

44. Pennsylvania

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	219
Average Annual Salary:	$42,851
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$27,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$66,000
Location Quotient:	0.87

Crane Operator Jobs in Pennsylvania

45. Kansas

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	58
Average Annual Salary:	$37,795
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$55,000
Location Quotient:	0.88

Crane Operator Jobs in Kansas

46. Alabama

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	82
Average Annual Salary:	$37,371
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$24,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$58,000
Location Quotient:	0.86

Crane Operator Jobs in Alabama

47. Kentucky

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	66
Average Annual Salary:	$38,372
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$57,000
Location Quotient:	0.83

Crane Operator Jobs in Kentucky

48. Missouri

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	60
Average Annual Salary:	$43,303
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$63,000
Location Quotient:	0.47

Crane Operator Jobs in Missouri

49. Vermont

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	2
Average Annual Salary:	$44,542
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$65,000
Location Quotient:	0.12

Crane Operator Jobs in Vermont

50. Michigan

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	64
Average Annual Salary:	$40,904
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$26,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$62,000
Location Quotient:	0.38

Crane Operator Jobs in Michigan

51. Illinois

Total Crane Operator Jobs:	116
Average Annual Salary:	$39,675
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$26,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$58,000
Location Quotient:	0.45

Crane Operator Jobs in Illinois

The 10 Best States In The US For Crane Operators in 2022

(884 Crane Operator Jobs)
(70 Crane Operator Jobs)
(62 Crane Operator Jobs)
(72 Crane Operator Jobs)
(297 Crane Operator Jobs)
(77 Crane Operator Jobs)
(57 Crane Operator Jobs)
(48 Crane Operator Jobs)
(66 Crane Operator Jobs)
(17 Crane Operator Jobs)

In order to bring you the best states for crane operators, we figured that the states needed to not only have ample job openings for crane operators, but also high pay, and good career prospects. To determine the above criteria, we looked at the our most recent data, and then we ranked each of the 50 states from best to worst for crane operators. So without further delay, here is the list of best states for crane operators.

Career Details for Crane Operators

Top Skills for Crane Operators

Top Salaries for Crane Operators

How We Determined 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

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Updated April 6, 2021