The average salary for a crane operator in the United States is around $68,080 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $68,080.
Wages typically start from $42,640 and go up to $103,570.
5% above national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$49.79 per hour
$103,570 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$40.00 per hour
$83,200 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$32.73 per hour
$68,080 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$25.29 per hour
$52,600 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$20.50 per hour
$42,640 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Crane operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $98,150 |
| Alaska | $92,490 |
| Maryland | $87,950 |
| New York | $85,850 |
| Oregon | $83,260 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 |
| Montana | $82,800 |
| Connecticut | $81,360 |
| Minnesota | $80,930 |
| California | $79,570 |
| District of Columbia | $79,260 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 |
| Colorado | $77,120 |
| Kansas | $77,100 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $76,600 |
| Texas | $73,280 |
| Vermont | $72,760 |
| Florida | $71,560 |
| South Dakota | $71,000 |
| Wisconsin | $67,720 |
| Iowa | $67,600 |
| Utah | $67,410 |
| Arizona | $67,350 |
| Virginia | $66,600 |
| Maine | $65,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,190 |
| North Carolina | $64,480 |
| South Carolina | $64,120 |
| Oklahoma | $63,590 |
| New Hampshire | $63,310 |
| New Mexico | $62,400 |
| Georgia | $62,050 |
| Kentucky | $62,000 |
| Illinois | $61,820 |
| Mississippi | $61,260 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 |
| Alabama | $60,790 |
| Nebraska | $60,720 |
| Delaware | $60,160 |
| Michigan | $59,740 |
| Tennessee | $59,410 |
| Missouri | $58,450 |
| Ohio | $57,620 |
| West Virginia | $54,830 |
| Indiana | $52,950 |
| Idaho | $52,770 |
| Guam | $50,350 |
| Arkansas | $41,600 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,320 |
| Hawaii | $124,260 |
| Nevada | $115,840 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 |
| Washington | $101,110 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 |
How do crane operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Crane operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than boilermakers but more than wellhead pumpers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Boilermaker salary | $76K |
| Building inspector salary | $75K |
| Interior designer salary | $67K |
| Pipefitter salary | $64K |
| Plumber salary | $64K |
| Rotary drill operator salary | $68K |
| Crane operator salary | $68K |
| Electrician salary | $63K |
| Drafter salary | $66K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $70K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)