The average salary for a crane operator in California is around $79,570 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $79,570.
Wages typically start from $50,550 and go up to $135,820.
7% above national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$65.30 per hour
$135,820 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$48.49 per hour
$100,860 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$38.25 per hour
$79,570 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$32.03 per hour
$66,620 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$24.30 per hour
$50,550 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 California. On average, they make less than commercial divers but more than millwrights.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Commercial diver salary | $102K |
| Avionics technician salary | $92K |
| Interior designer salary | $80K |
| Rigger salary | $86K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $82K |
| Crane operator salary | $80K |
| Marine electrician salary | $85K |
| Electrician salary | $76K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $77K |
| Millwright salary | $78K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)