The average salary for a crane operator in Illinois is around $61,820 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $61,820.
Wages typically start from $41,470 and go up to $131,280.
2% below national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$63.12 per hour
$131,280 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$39.92 per hour
$83,030 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$29.72 per hour
$61,820 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$22.20 per hour
$46,170 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$19.94 per hour
$41,470 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 Illinois. On average, they make less than avionics technicians but more than highway maintenance workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Avionics technician salary | $81K |
| Glazier salary | $62K |
| Drywall installer salary | $63K |
| Tile and marble setter salary | $67K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $68K |
| Crane operator salary | $62K |
| Millwright salary | $67K |
| Professional painter salary | $61K |
| Construction worker salary | $61K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $62K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)