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The differences between elevator operators and crane operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a crane operator has an average salary of $54,275, which is higher than the $36,944 average annual salary of an elevator operator.
The top three skills for an elevator operator include customer service, harvest and governmental regulations. The most important skills for a crane operator are cranes, NCCCO, and CDL.
| Elevator Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $36,944 | $54,275 |
| Hourly rate | $17.76 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 31,248 | 34,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.67 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 56% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
An elevator operator is responsible for transporting people through different floors of an establishment by operating the buttons or lever of an elevator. Elevator operators must also know the building's directory to assist the guests of their inquiries and concerns, sending them to the right floor of the appropriate department and personnel. They also work closely with the maintenance team, conducting preventive measures to ensure the safety and security of the elevator and immediately call for repairs on any defects.
A crane operator's work involves the control of draglines or cranes to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment, and other large objects at industrial or construction sites, ports, surface mines, railway yards, and other similar locations. Their tasks and duties include conducting crane maintenance such as lubricating and cleaning, inspecting cranes, and assembling tower cranes. Some of them work with all three cranes, namely the boom trucks, mobile cranes, and tower cranes, while others prefer to specialize.
Elevator operators and crane operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Elevator Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Average salary | $36,944 | $54,275 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $52,000 | Between $35,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Moorhead, MN | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Katerra |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between an elevator operator and a crane operator in terms of educational background:
| Elevator Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between elevator operators' and crane operators' demographics:
| Elevator Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 0.8% White, 73.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |