Occupation salary profile

Crane and Tower Operators

SOC 53-7021 BLS OEWS May 2025

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

National median · BLS
$68,080
▲ +2.58% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$72,130
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
42,890
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Crane and Tower Operators

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$42,640
25th$52,600
Median (50th)$68,080
75th$83,200
90th — top pay$103,570

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Crane and Tower Operators

BLS projects employment of crane and tower operators to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
42,900 → 44,500
+1,600 jobs
Projected change
+3.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Plus less than 5 years experience
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Crane and Tower Operators

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operation and Control3.9
  • Operations Monitoring3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Active Listening3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.0
  • Reading Comprehension3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Time Management3.0
  • Active Learning2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Mechanical3.5
  • Mathematics3.0
  • Transportation2.9
  • English Language2.9
  • Public Safety and Security2.8
  • Building and Construction2.7
  • Education and Training2.6
  • Production and Processing2.5
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WindowsCrane operation control softwareInventory tracking software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What crane and tower operators do

  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • Inspect crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
  • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
  • Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
  • Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
  • Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
Also called
Crane OperatorHeavy Equipment OperatorMobile Crane OperatorOverhead Crane OperatorEquipment OperatorMachine OperatorPort Crane OperatorScrap Crane OperatorTower Crane OperatorWoodyard Crane Operator
More job titles for this occupation (53)
Acid Crane OperatorBoom Cat OperatorBoom Crane OperatorBoomswing OperatorBottom Crane OperatorBridge Crane OperatorBurial Vault DelivererBurial Vault InstallerCantilever Crane OperatorCathead OperatorCell Tower Technician (Cell Tower Tech)Certified Crane OperatorCharging Crane OperatorCherry Picker OperatorCinder Dump Crane OperatorCinder Pit Crane OperatorClamshell OperatorCoal Tower OperatorCoke Crane OperatorCrane DriverCrane Ladle PersonDemolition Crane OperatorDerrick Boat Lever OperatorDerrick Boat LevermanDiesel Crane OperatorElectric Crane OperatorErecting Crane OperatorGantry Crane OperatorHydrocrane OperatorLadle Crane OperatorLocomotive Crane OperatorMill Crane OperatorMixer Crane OperatorMold Yard Crane OperatorMonorail Crane OperatorOre Bridge OperatorOverhead Crane Truck LoaderPig Machine Crane OperatorPit Crane OperatorPouring Crane OperatorPower Crane OperatorRadio Control Crane OperatorScrap Drop Crane OperatorScrap Drop OperatorSorting Grapple OperatorSteam Crane OperatorSteel Crane OperatorTower Loader OperatorTractor Crane OperatorTruck Crane OperatorWhirley OperatorWrecking Crane Engine OperatorYard Crane Operator

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.