How to hire a mobile crane operator

How to hire a mobile crane operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mobile 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 mobile crane operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mobile crane operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The mobile crane operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect mobile crane operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents mobile crane operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Mobile Crane Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Mobile 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	$12-32
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Crane Operator	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... Show more	$16-39

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Cranes
   • Safety Procedures
   • General Supervision
   • DOT
   • Mobile Cranes
   • Safety Standards
   • NCCCO
   • Rail Cars
   • Slings
   • Vehicle Maintenance
   • Hoisting
   • Safety Issues
   • RAN

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Place blocks and outriggers to prevent capsizing when lifting heavy loads.
   • Weld, torch cut, operate rigging (roughneck), and run mobile crane.
   • Experience crane repair, troubleshooting, rebuilding.Now expire NCCCO certification on large lattice, crawler, and large hydro.
   • Provide safe and efficient transportation for disable Marta customers.
   • Coordinate all safety efforts with management to meet or exceed requirements of client specifications and OSHA regulations.
   • Operate, maintain, and inspect the company mobile crane and all of its rigging before and after every use.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, mobile crane operators' average salary in kentucky is 52% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mobile crane operators 61% less than senior-level mobile crane operators.
   • Certifications. A mobile 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 mobile crane operator's salary.

   Average mobile crane operator salary

   $42,053yearly

   $20.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mobile crane operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a mobile crane operator job description

   A mobile 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 mobile crane operator job description:

   Mobile crane operator job description example

   Primary Location: Connecticut-Hartford-79 Jefferson St HH Bliss Wing (10064) Job: Professional Non-ClinicalOrganization: Hartford HospitalJob Posting: Sep 26, 2022 Mobile Mammography Van Operator (CDL) - Per Diem - (22160307) Description Work where every moment matters.
   
   Every day, almost 30,000 Hartford HealthCare employees come to work with one thing in common: Pride in what we do, knowing every moment matters here. We invite you to become part of Connecticut's most comprehensive healthcare network.
   
   Hartford Hospital is one of the largest and most respected teaching hospitals New England. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center that provides cutting edge treatment to its patients. This is made possible by being home to the largest robotic surgery center in the Northeast and the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI), one of the most-advanced medical simulation training centers in the world. When hospitals cannot provide the advanced care, expertise and new treatment options their patients require, they turn to us.
   
   Under the direction of the Mammography Manager the Mobile Mammography Van Driver is responsible for driving a 40 foot mobile mammography unit to off-site locations as scheduled. Assists patients on and off of the coach for mammography exams to ensure patient safety.
   Responsibilities
   
   Operate the mobile mammography unit vehicle in a safe and responsible manner.
   Drive the mobile mammography unit vehicle to various locations across the state, operating on public roads as well as hospital property adhering to hospital and state regulations.
   Ensure passenger safety.
   Appropriately place traffic cones around vehicle when parked, to ensure overall safety
   Provides assistance required to ensure patients' safe boarding and exiting of vehicle.
   Ensure mobile van is maintained in a clean and safe manner. May periodically wash vehicle.
   Complete pre and post trip vehicle inspections.
   Keep interior of vehicle clear and free of forgotten items and litter.
   Refill fuel tank at the end of each day.
   Inspects vehicle for apparent defects and operational problems by physically observing and checking the vehicle to ensure vehicle is in good, safe working order. Reports malfunctions to Supervisor.
   Checks and fills fluids as necessary.
   Maintain accurate daily logs of all activities performed per established standards
   Perform other related duties as required
   
   Qualifications Education:
   
   High school diploma or equivalend required.
   
   Experience:
   
   Minimum 1 completed year of experience driving a CDL Class B Vehicle required, 2+ years preferred.
   
   Licensure, Cerification, Registration:
   
   CDL Class B Driver License
   
   We take great care of careers.
   With locations around the state, Hartford HealthCare offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth. Here, you are part of an organization on the cutting edge - helping to bring new technologies, breakthrough treatments and community education to countless men, women and children. We know that a thriving organization starts with thriving employees-- we provide a competitive benefits program designed to ensure work/life balance. Every moment matters. And this is your moment.
   RegularStandard Hours Per Week: 1Schedule: Per Diem (1 hour) Shift Details: Per Diem shifts as needed to fill in for the mobile van driver

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find mobile 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 mobile crane operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mobile 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 mobile crane operator job on Zippia to find and recruit mobile crane operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with mobile crane operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 mobile crane operator

   Once you've found the mobile crane operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   To prepare for the new mobile crane operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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