The average salary for a crane operator in Kentucky is around $62,000 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $62,000.
Wages typically start from $40,810 and go up to $89,660.
2% below national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$43.11 per hour
$89,660 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$38.48 per hour
$80,040 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$29.81 per hour
$62,000 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$22.03 per hour
$45,830 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$19.62 per hour
$40,810 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 Kentucky. On average, they make less than ironworkers but more than electricians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ironworker salary | $64K |
| Extraction worker salary | $68K |
| Building inspector salary | $60K |
| Commercial diver salary | $64K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $61K |
| Crane operator salary | $62K |
| Interior designer salary | $59K |
| Drafter salary | $60K |
| Ship loader salary | $53K |
| Electrician salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)