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Crane operator salary
Average crane operator salary
$54,275
Average Crane Operator Salary
The average salary for a crane operator is approximately $54,275 per year, or about $26 per hour. This figure can differ based on various factors, including location, experience, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, crane operators in specialized fields may command higher wages compared to those in entry-level positions.
Crane Operator Salaries by State
Salaries for crane operators vary significantly across the country. States like California and New York often report higher average salaries due to increased demand and living costs. Understanding these differences can help job seekers identify the best opportunities.
Experience Level Impact
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level crane operators typically earn less than those with several years of experience. As operators gain skills and certifications, their earning potential increases. Exploring these dynamics is vital for anyone considering a career as a crane operator.
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Where can a Crane Operator earn more?
Crane operator salaries by experience level
Crane operator salary estimates from across the web
Average crane operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for crane operators are Washington, California, and New York. The lowest average crane operator salary states are Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for crane operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,726 | $28.71 |
| 2 | Iowa | $56,069 | $26.96 |
| 3 | Utah | $52,935 | $25.45 |
| 4 | Washington | $75,464 | $36.28 |
| 5 | California | $70,663 | $33.97 |
| 6 | New York | $70,189 | $33.74 |
| 7 | Arizona | $59,964 | $28.83 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $49,895 | $23.99 |
| 9 | Colorado | $57,295 | $27.55 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $52,418 | $25.20 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $58,230 | $28.00 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $49,244 | $23.68 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $51,952 | $24.98 |
| 14 | Virginia | $55,557 | $26.71 |
| 15 | Indiana | $50,831 | $24.44 |
| 16 | Alaska | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $48,442 | $23.29 |
| 18 | Montana | $49,738 | $23.91 |
| 19 | Oregon | $53,343 | $25.65 |
| 20 | Maryland | $56,055 | $26.95 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $49,372 | $23.74 |
| 22 | Delaware | $51,029 | $24.53 |
| 23 | Idaho | $47,613 | $22.89 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $48,848 | $23.48 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $48,181 | $23.16 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $46,103 | $22.16 |
| 27 | Texas | $48,217 | $23.18 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $49,233 | $23.67 |
| 30 | Maine | $47,232 | $22.71 |
| 31 | Georgia | $47,975 | $23.06 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $48,183 | $23.16 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $46,511 | $22.36 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $49,152 | $23.63 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,892 | $23.02 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| 37 | Ohio | $44,467 | $21.38 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $45,909 | $22.07 |
| 39 | Florida | $47,131 | $22.66 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $45,707 | $21.97 |
| 41 | Nevada | $45,812 | $22.02 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $46,643 | $22.42 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $47,814 | $22.99 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $42,851 | $20.60 |
| 45 | Kansas | $37,795 | $18.17 |
| 46 | Alabama | $37,371 | $17.97 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $38,372 | $18.45 |
| 48 | Missouri | $43,303 | $20.82 |
| 49 | Vermont | $44,542 | $21.41 |
| 50 | Michigan | $40,904 | $19.67 |
| 51 | Illinois | $39,675 | $19.07 |
Highest paying cities for crane operators
The highest-paying cities for crane operators are Vancouver, WA, New York, NY, and San Diego, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $76,648 | $36.85 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $70,448 | $33.87 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $68,424 | $32.90 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,063 | $28.88 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $57,230 | $27.51 |
| 6 | Norfolk, VA | $55,427 | $26.65 |
| 7 | Beaverton, OR | $53,247 | $25.60 |
| 8 | Grand Forks, ND | $52,594 | $25.29 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, LA | $52,059 | $25.03 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,434 | $24.25 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $49,233 | $23.67 |
| 12 | Odessa, TX | $49,211 | $23.66 |
| 13 | Sioux Falls, SD | $49,131 | $23.62 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $48,999 | $23.56 |
| 15 | Pensacola, FL | $48,886 | $23.50 |
| 16 | Portland, ME | $48,306 | $23.22 |
| 17 | North Charleston, SC | $48,271 | $23.21 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $47,968 | $23.06 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,752 | $22.96 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $47,102 | $22.65 |
Crane operator salary details
A crane operator's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a crane operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $54,275 | $4,523 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying crane operator jobs
The highest paying types of crane operators are foreman/operator, marine tower operator, and bridge crane operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment Operator | $31,739 | $2,645 | $15.26 | 62,473 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
| Loader Operator | $36,987 | $3,082 | $17.78 | 61,980 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
Top companies hiring crane operators now:
Which companies pay crane operators the most?
Crane operator salaries at Katerra and Oshkosh are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average crane operator salary at companies like ABB and BWX Technologies are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katerra | $80,361 | $38.64 |
| 2 | Oshkosh | $75,643 | $36.37 |
| 3 | ABB | $74,767 | $35.95 |
| 4 | BWX Technologies | $71,111 | $34.19 |
| 5 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $70,616 | $33.95 |
| 6 | Kiewit | $69,601 | $33.46 |
| 7 | ATI Physical Therapy | $68,025 | $32.70 |
| 8 | The Manitowoc Company | $66,394 | $31.92 |
| 9 | BAE Systems | $65,676 | $31.57 |
| 10 | Kinder Morgan | $65,293 | $31.39 |
| 11 | Flynn | $64,943 | $31.22 |
| 12 | Fluor Corporation | $64,464 | $30.99 |
| 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 |
| 17 | Kinsley Power Systems | $61,652 | $29.64 |
| 18 | General Dynamics | $61,317 | $29.48 |
| 19 | Koch Industries | $60,922 | $29.29 |
| 20 | EMCOR Group | $59,810 | $28.75 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Crane operator salary trends
The average crane operator salary has risen by $12,044 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average crane operator earned $42,231 annually, but today, they earn $54,275 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for crane operators over the last decade.
Compare crane operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average crane operator salary over time
Compare crane operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Crane operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,300 | $26.09 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $51,500 | $24.77 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $49,200 | $23.66 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $47,400 | $22.81 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | $47,400 | $22.80 | +1.0% |
Recently added crane operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria | Crane Operator | Le Sueur, MN | 06/29/2025 | $35,792 |
| Wieland Chase | Crane/Pointer Operator | Duncansville, PA | 06/29/2025 | $40,446 |
| Flynn | Crane Operator | Abilene, TX | 06/29/2025 | $73,045 |
| Chase Brass | Crane/Pointer Operator | Duncansville, PA | 06/28/2025 | $40,446 |
| Mid-States | Forklift/Crane Operator-BT | Browntown, WI | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Crane Operator 25 | Tigard, OR | 06/27/2025 | $49,045 |
| Sundt Construction | Operator-Crane | Heyburn, ID | 06/27/2025 | $83,480 |
| Bone Dry Roofing | Certified Crane Operator With CDL (JOB #: 121824) | Indianapolis, IN | 06/26/2025 | $50,088 |
| Norsk Hydro Asa | Shipping Crane Operator | Elkhart, IN | 06/26/2025 | $39,319 |
| DHL (Deutsche Post | Crane Operator (US) | San Antonio, TX | 06/26/2025 | $46,436 |
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