Crane operator vs boom operator

The differences between crane operators and boom 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 crane operator and a boom operator. Additionally, a crane operator has an average salary of $54,275, which is higher than the $38,499 average annual salary of a boom operator.

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

Crane operator vs boom operator overview

	Crane Operator	Boom Operator
Yearly salary	$54,275	$38,499
Hourly rate	$26.09	$18.51
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	34,918	31,804
Job satisfaction	4.67	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

Crane operator vs boom operator salary

Crane operators and boom operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Crane Operator	Boom Operator
Average salary	$54,275	$38,499
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $83,000	Between $25,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	Vancouver, WA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Katerra	-
Best paying industry	Energy	-

Differences between crane operator and boom operator education

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

	Crane Operator	Boom Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Business	Photography
Most common college	-	-

Crane operator vs boom operator demographics

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

	Crane Operator	Boom Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5%	Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 0.7% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	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%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between crane operator and boom operator duties and responsibilities

Crane operator example responsibilities.

Perform preventive maintenance on cranes in accordance with manufacturer and OSHA requirements.
Train, test and certify to run all small and large hydraulic cranes through NCCCO.
Operate LBT and TLL cranes, loading and unloading concrete bridge girders in a precast yard in a production setting.
Rig cranes to handle constriction materials using appropriate nylon and wire rope slings, shackles and other material handling equipment.
Arch, MIG, and TIG welding.
Maintain and use appropriate PPE.

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.

Crane operator vs boom operator skills

Common crane operator skills

Cranes, 25%
NCCCO, 7%
CDL, 7%
OSHA, 4%
Hoisting, 4%
Safety Rules, 3%

Common boom operator skills

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

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Transportation Industry
Crane Operator
Crane Operator vs Boom Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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