How to hire a crane operator

How to hire a crane operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step crane operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a crane operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new crane operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a crane operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the crane operator you need to hire. Certain crane operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A crane operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, crane operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of crane operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Crane Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Crane Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$16-39
   Equipment Operator	Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing... Show more	$11-19
   Forklift Operator	Forklift operators are skilled workers responsible for operating heavy equipment machines called forklifts. They are in charge of operating forklifts, a type of industrial or heavy equipment truck/machine that moves materials from one place to another through prongs protruding from the machine... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cranes
   • NCCCO
   • CDL
   • OSHA
   • Hoisting
   • Safety Rules
   • Lattice Boom
   • Crawler Cranes
   • Load Charts
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Regulations
   • Overhead Cranes
   • Mobile Cranes
   • TON Cranes

   Check all skills

   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.

   More crane operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your crane operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A crane operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, crane operators' average salary in alabama is 50% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level crane operators 58% less than senior-level crane operators.
   • Certifications. A crane operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a crane operator's salary.

   Average crane operator salary

   $54,275yearly

   $26.09 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level crane operator salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average crane operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$76,648	$37
   2	New York	$70,448	$34
   3	California	$68,424	$33
   4	Arizona	$60,063	$29
   5	Colorado	$57,230	$28
   6	Virginia	$55,427	$27
   7	Oregon	$53,247	$26
   8	North Dakota	$52,594	$25
   9	Louisiana	$52,059	$25
   10	Indiana	$50,434	$24
   11	District of Columbia	$49,233	$24
   12	Texas	$49,211	$24
   13	South Dakota	$49,131	$24
   14	Oklahoma	$48,999	$24
   15	Florida	$48,886	$24
   16	Maine	$48,306	$23
   17	South Carolina	$48,271	$23
   18	Georgia	$47,968	$23
   19	Minnesota	$47,752	$23
   20	North Carolina	$47,102	$23

   Average crane operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Katerra	$80,361	$38.64	2
   2	Oshkosh	$75,643	$36.37	2
   3	ABB	$74,767	$35.95	15
   4	BWX Technologies	$71,111	$34.19
   5	Jacobs Engineering Group	$70,616	$33.95
   6	Kiewit	$69,601	$33.46	15
   7	ATI Physical Therapy	$68,025	$32.70	3
   8	The Manitowoc Company	$66,394	$31.92
   9	BAE Systems	$65,676	$31.57	30
   10	Kinder Morgan	$65,293	$31.39	11
   11	Flynn	$64,943	$31.22	2
   12	Fluor Corporation	$64,464	$30.99	21
   13	Castle Metals	$63,947	$30.74
   14	RES Success	$63,781	$30.66
   15	Woods Services	$63,305	$30.44
   16	SpaceX	$62,245	$29.93	5
   17	Kinsley Power Systems	$61,652	$29.64
   18	General Dynamics	$61,317	$29.48	10
   19	Koch Industries	$60,922	$29.29	1
   20	EMCOR Group	$59,810	$28.75	13

4. Writing a crane operator job description

   A crane operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a crane operator job description:

   Crane operator job description example

   · Capable of operating 1 end of the anodize line (clean-up or Anodize)

   · Watching tank temperatures

   · Following the correct process flows

   · Maintain acceptable production level set forth daily by group leader

   · Adjusting height of tank liquids

   · Proper drainage and rinsing of product

   · Performing coating checks (Anodize end)

   · Performing seal checks (Anodize end)

   · Performing color checks (Anodize end)

   · Identification of product appearance after a chemical tank

   · Adjusting pole height on tanks as needed (using blocks)

   · Running proper times in tanks (using load ticks and charts)

   Physical demands and abilities

   · Regularly required to use hands and fingers to operate and inspect machinery and metal pieces

   · Regularly lift and/or move objects 10-50lbs. Occasionally lift and/or move objects that weigh more than 100 lbs. to position metal objects to begin and finish treatment processes and/or prepare for shipping

   · Frequently required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl to position self to move metal objects for treatment or packing.

   · Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust and focus. Must be able to detect slight differences in various finishes.

   · Communicate verbally with coworkers about safety, discrepancy, or variety of other work issues

   · Tolerate working in an environment that may be hot or cold depending on the season and will expose you to loud sounds, dust, fumes and solvents.

   Candidates must be 18 years or older, and willing and able to pass a drug and alcohol test at any given time.

   Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

   Superior Metal Services, LLC is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Superior Metal Services, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

   Related keywords: crane operator, nccco crane operator, heavy equipment operator, warehouse, construction

   Job Type: Full-time

   Pay: $19.00 per hour

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find crane operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any crane operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level crane operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your crane operator job on Zippia to find and recruit crane operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit crane operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new crane operator

   Once you've selected the best crane operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new crane operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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