The average salary for a crane operator in Montana is around $82,800 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $82,800.
Wages typically start from $51,970 and go up to $101,860.
26% above national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$48.97 per hour
$101,860 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$46.08 per hour
$95,840 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$39.81 per hour
$82,800 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$35.66 per hour
$74,170 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$24.99 per hour
$51,970 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 Montana. On average, they make less than architects but more than pipefitters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Architect salary | $97K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $98K |
| Marine electrician salary | $97K |
| Surveyor salary | $85K |
| Urban planner salary | $81K |
| Crane operator salary | $83K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $90K |
| Ship loader salary | $80K |
| Plumber salary | $80K |
| Pipefitter salary | $80K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)