The average salary for a crane operator in Texas is around $73,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Crane operators earn an average yearly salary of $73,280.
Wages typically start from $42,790 and go up to $93,390.
1% below national average Updated in 2025
Crane operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$44.90 per hour
$93,390 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$38.40 per hour
$79,880 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$35.23 per hour
$73,280 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level crane operator earnings begin at:
$27.41 per hour
$57,020 per year
10th percentile
Starting level crane operator earnings begin at:
$20.57 per hour
$42,790 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 Texas. On average, they make less than boilermakers but more than millwrights.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Boilermaker salary | $76K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $76K |
| Interior designer salary | $65K |
| Surveyor salary | $61K |
| Building inspector salary | $65K |
| Crane operator salary | $73K |
| Drafter salary | $63K |
| Pump operator salary | $62K |
| Ship loader salary | $61K |
| Millwright salary | $63K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)