Money · 1 of 5
What crane operators make
Median
$68,080
Bottom tenth
$42,640
Top tenth
$103,570
The national median is $68,080 a year, the bottom tenth earn $42,640 or less and the top tenth $103,570 or more (2025 federal wage survey). The survey covers crane and tower operators together. Union operators in big cities and operators on refineries, ports and wind farms sit near the top; small rural contractors sit near the bottom.