The average salary for a crane operator in Tennessee is around $59,410 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $59,410.
Wages typically start from $40,890 and go up to $84,090.
3% below national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$40.43 per hour
$84,090 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$37.94 per hour
$78,920 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$28.56 per hour
$59,410 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$22.07 per hour
$45,910 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$19.66 per hour
$40,890 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 Tennessee. On average, they make less than hydroelectric plant technicians but more than plumbers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $60K |
| Avionics technician salary | $61K |
| Electrician salary | $61K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $60K |
| Brickmason salary | $64K |
| Crane operator salary | $59K |
| Rotary drill operator salary | $59K |
| Building inspector salary | $60K |
| Millwright salary | $62K |
| Plumber salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)