Crane operator salary: what crane operators actually make
Crane operators earned a median $32.73 an hour ($68,080 a year) in May 2025, across 42,890 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do crane operators make?
The median crane operator earned $32.73 an hour, or $68,080 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 42,890 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $25.29 and $40.00 an hour.
The middle half of crane operators earn between $25.29 and $40.00 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $49.79 ($103,570 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $20.50. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master crane operator pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level crane operator earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master crane operator, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $20.50 – $25.29 | $42,640 – $52,600 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.29 – $40.00 | $52,600 – $83,200 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $40.00 – $49.79 | $83,200 – $103,570 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Crane operator pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59.74 | 83% above |
| Nevada | $55.69 | 70% above |
| Rhode Island | $50.16 | 53% above |
| Washington | $48.61 | 49% above |
| New Jersey | $48.39 | 48% above |
| Massachusetts | $47.19 | 44% above |
| Alaska | $44.47 | 36% above |
| Maryland | $42.28 | 29% above |
| New York | $41.27 | 26% above |
| Oregon | $40.03 | 22% above |
| North Dakota | $39.85 | 22% above |
| Montana | $39.81 | 22% above |
| Connecticut | $39.12 | 20% above |
| Minnesota | $38.91 | 19% above |
| California | $38.25 | 17% above |
| Wyoming | $37.49 | 15% above |
| Colorado | $37.08 | 13% above |
| Kansas | $37.07 | 13% above |
| Texas | $35.23 | 8% above |
| Vermont | $34.98 | 7% above |
| Florida | $34.40 | 5% above |
| South Dakota | $34.13 | 4% above |
| Wisconsin | $32.56 | 1% below |
| Iowa | $32.50 | 1% below |
| Utah | $32.41 | 1% below |
| Arizona | $32.38 | 1% below |
| Virginia | $32.02 | 2% below |
| Maine | $31.58 | 4% below |
| Pennsylvania | $31.34 | 4% below |
| North Carolina | $31.00 | 5% below |
| South Carolina | $30.83 | 6% below |
| Oklahoma | $30.57 | 7% below |
| New Hampshire | $30.44 | 7% below |
| New Mexico | $30.00 | 8% below |
| Georgia | $29.83 | 9% below |
| Kentucky | $29.81 | 9% below |
| Illinois | $29.72 | 9% below |
| Mississippi | $29.45 | 10% below |
| Louisiana | $29.41 | 10% below |
| Alabama | $29.22 | 11% below |
| Nebraska | $29.19 | 11% below |
| Delaware | $28.92 | 12% below |
| Michigan | $28.72 | 12% below |
| Tennessee | $28.56 | 13% below |
| Missouri | $28.10 | 14% below |
| Ohio | $27.70 | 15% below |
| West Virginia | $26.36 | 19% below |
| Indiana | $25.46 | 22% below |
| Idaho | $25.37 | 22% below |
| Arkansas | $20.00 | 39% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59.74 | $54.31 | #2 | 190 |
| Nevada | $55.69 | $55.69 | #1 | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $50.16 | $49.03 | #3 | — |
| Washington | $48.61 | $45.43 | #4 | 1,030 |
| New Jersey | $48.39 | $44.48 | #7 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $47.19 | $44.60 | #6 | 680 |
| Alaska | $44.47 | $43.43 | #8 | 50 |
| Maryland | $42.28 | $40.27 | #12 | — |
| New York | $41.27 | $38.25 | #16 | 1,150 |
| Oregon | $40.03 | $38.71 | #14 | 340 |
| North Dakota | $39.85 | $44.78 | #5 | 180 |
| Montana | $39.81 | $42.08 | #9 | 30 |
| Connecticut | $39.12 | $37.76 | #17 | 220 |
| Minnesota | $38.91 | $39.46 | #13 | 370 |
| California | $38.25 | $34.55 | #24 | 2,130 |
| Wyoming | $37.49 | $40.44 | #11 | 230 |
| Colorado | $37.08 | $35.97 | #20 | 470 |
| Kansas | $37.07 | $41.14 | #10 | 780 |
| Texas | $35.23 | $36.28 | #19 | 6,010 |
| Vermont | $34.98 | $35.69 | #21 | 170 |
| Florida | $34.40 | $33.27 | #27 | 2,570 |
| South Dakota | $34.13 | $38.52 | #15 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $32.56 | $34.60 | #23 | 440 |
| Iowa | $32.50 | $37.02 | #18 | 650 |
| Utah | $32.41 | $32.77 | #32 | 440 |
| Arizona | $32.38 | $32.15 | #36 | 930 |
| Virginia | $32.02 | $31.67 | #38 | 1,120 |
| Maine | $31.58 | $32.56 | #33 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $31.34 | $32.11 | #37 | 1,630 |
| North Carolina | $31.00 | $32.87 | #31 | 1,050 |
| South Carolina | $30.83 | $32.90 | #30 | 720 |
| Oklahoma | $30.57 | $34.82 | #22 | 620 |
| New Hampshire | $30.44 | $29.21 | #46 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $30.00 | $32.54 | #34 | 290 |
| Georgia | $29.83 | $30.98 | #40 | 1,370 |
| Kentucky | $29.81 | $33.05 | #28 | 640 |
| Illinois | $29.72 | $29.72 | #44 | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $29.45 | $33.85 | #25 | 550 |
| Louisiana | $29.41 | $33.34 | #26 | 1,930 |
| Alabama | $29.22 | $32.91 | #29 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $29.19 | $32.40 | #35 | 410 |
| Delaware | $28.92 | $28.98 | #47 | 220 |
| Michigan | $28.72 | $29.85 | #42 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $28.56 | $31.08 | #39 | 660 |
| Missouri | $28.10 | $30.95 | #41 | 630 |
| Ohio | $27.70 | $29.85 | #43 | 1,780 |
| West Virginia | $26.36 | $29.45 | #45 | 170 |
| Indiana | $25.46 | $27.29 | #48 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $25.37 | $26.57 | #49 | — |
| Arkansas | $20.00 | $23.01 | #50 | 880 |
Crane operator wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.29 | $29.55 | 53,830 |
| 2000 | $15.89 | $29.71 | 55,770 |
| 2001 | $16.64 | $30.25 | 51,650 |
| 2002 | $17.47 | $31.26 | 49,060 |
| 2003 | $17.86 | $31.25 | 47,420 |
| 2004 | $17.99 | $30.66 | 43,570 |
| 2005 | $18.69 | $30.81 | 43,690 |
| 2006 | $18.77 | $29.97 | 45,740 |
| 2007 | $19.36 | $30.06 | 45,720 |
| 2008 | $20.13 | $30.10 | 44,490 |
| 2009 | $21.22 | $31.84 | 40,770 |
| 2010 | $22.23 | $32.82 | 39,510 |
| 2011 | $22.34 | $31.97 | 41,070 |
| 2012 | $22.73 | $31.87 | 43,040 |
| 2013 | $23.38 | $32.31 | 41,580 |
| 2014 | $24.39 | $33.17 | 44,540 |
| 2015 | $24.83 | $33.73 | 46,490 |
| 2016 | $25.08 | $33.64 | 45,020 |
| 2017 | $25.10 | $32.97 | 43,660 |
| 2018 | $26.03 | $33.37 | 44,410 |
| 2019 | $27.26 | $34.33 | 45,480 |
| 2020 | $28.71 | $35.71 | 44,060 |
| 2021 | $29.92 | $35.55 | 43,400 |
| 2022 | $29.49 | $32.44 | 45,210 |
| 2023 | $31.10 | $32.86 | 42,260 |
| 2024 | $31.91 | $32.75 | 42,000 |
| 2025 | $32.73 | $32.73 | 42,890 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median crane operator wage changed by -3.0% over the last ten years and by -4.7% since 2019.
Are there more crane operator jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 42,890 crane operators in May 2025, -7.7% compared with 46,490 ten years earlier and -5.7% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 53,830 |
| 2000 | 55,770 |
| 2001 | 51,650 |
| 2002 | 49,060 |
| 2003 | 47,420 |
| 2004 | 43,570 |
| 2005 | 43,690 |
| 2006 | 45,740 |
| 2007 | 45,720 |
| 2008 | 44,490 |
| 2009 | 40,770 |
| 2010 | 39,510 |
| 2011 | 41,070 |
| 2012 | 43,040 |
| 2013 | 41,580 |
| 2014 | 44,540 |
| 2015 | 46,490 |
| 2016 | 45,020 |
| 2017 | 43,660 |
| 2018 | 44,410 |
| 2019 | 45,480 |
| 2020 | 44,060 |
| 2021 | 43,400 |
| 2022 | 45,210 |
| 2023 | 42,260 |
| 2024 | 42,000 |
| 2025 | 42,890 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the crane operator jobs are
Louisiana has the highest concentration of crane operators, 3.6× the national share, followed by Wyoming (3.0×) and Indiana (2.6×). The lowest is Montana at 0.2×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 1,930 | 1.0 | 3.6× |
| Wyoming | 230 | 0.8 | 3.0× |
| Indiana | 2,300 | 0.7 | 2.6× |
| Arkansas | 880 | 0.7 | 2.5× |
| Alabama | 1,280 | 0.6 | 2.2× |
| Vermont | 170 | 0.6 | 2.0× |
| Maine | 360 | 0.6 | 2.0× |
| Kansas | 780 | 0.5 | 2.0× |
| Mississippi | 550 | 0.5 | 1.7× |
| Delaware | 220 | 0.5 | 1.6× |
| Texas | 6,010 | 0.4 | 1.6× |
| Iowa | 650 | 0.4 | 1.5× |
| North Dakota | 180 | 0.4 | 1.5× |
| Nebraska | 410 | 0.4 | 1.4× |
| Oklahoma | 620 | 0.4 | 1.3× |
| New Mexico | 290 | 0.3 | 1.2× |
| Kentucky | 640 | 0.3 | 1.2× |
| Ohio | 1,780 | 0.3 | 1.2× |
| South Carolina | 720 | 0.3 | 1.1× |
| Hawaii | 190 | 0.3 | 1.1× |
| Michigan | 1,310 | 0.3 | 1.1× |
| Washington | 1,030 | 0.3 | 1.1× |
| Arizona | 930 | 0.3 | 1.0× |
| Georgia | 1,370 | 0.3 | 1.0× |
| Virginia | 1,120 | 0.3 | 1.0× |
| Pennsylvania | 1,630 | 0.3 | 1.0× |
| South Dakota | 120 | 0.3 | 0.9× |
| Florida | 2,570 | 0.3 | 0.9× |
| New Hampshire | 170 | 0.2 | 0.9× |
| Utah | 440 | 0.2 | 0.9× |
| West Virginia | 170 | 0.2 | 0.9× |
| Nevada | 380 | 0.2 | 0.9× |
| New Jersey | 1,000 | 0.2 | 0.8× |
| Missouri | 630 | 0.2 | 0.8× |
| North Carolina | 1,050 | 0.2 | 0.8× |
| Illinois | 1,220 | 0.2 | 0.7× |
| Tennessee | 660 | 0.2 | 0.7× |
| Massachusetts | 680 | 0.2 | 0.7× |
| Oregon | 340 | 0.2 | 0.6× |
| Colorado | 470 | 0.2 | 0.6× |
| Alaska | 50 | 0.2 | 0.6× |
| Wisconsin | 440 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| Connecticut | 220 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| Minnesota | 370 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| New York | 1,150 | 0.1 | 0.4× |
| California | 2,130 | 0.1 | 0.4× |
| Montana | 30 | 0.1 | 0.2× |
Metros with the most crane operator jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,100 | $36.30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,880 | $26.87 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,500 | $48.38 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,310 | $33.00 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 790 | $34.62 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 660 | $30.25 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 650 | $28.72 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 630 | $34.89 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 590 | $39.18 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 570 | $54.96 |
Highest-paying metros for crane operators
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54.96 | $49.47 | #1 | $65.00 | 570 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $48.38 | $42.97 | #3 | $71.55 | 1,500 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47.19 | $43.57 | #2 | $62.40 | 500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39.18 | $34.49 | #6 | $65.30 | 590 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $37.55 | $32.88 | #9 | $48.22 | 530 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $36.30 | $36.82 | #4 | $47.62 | 2,100 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $34.89 | $33.78 | #7 | $43.01 | 630 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34.62 | $33.74 | #8 | $59.72 | 790 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $33.00 | $32.01 | #10 | $44.20 | 1,310 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $32.06 | $35.31 | #5 | $40.37 | 560 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $30.25 | $30.22 | #11 | $39.09 | 660 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $28.72 | $28.63 | #12 | $48.29 | 650 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $26.87 | $25.94 | #13 | $51.81 | 1,880 |
Metros with at least 500 crane operators. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 13 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for crane operators in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 72% | $95.63 | $67.68 | 53/62 |
| California | 100% | $94.77 | — | 53/58 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $91.53 | — | 12/14 |
| Washington | 61% | $90.45 | $63.67 | 33/39 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $86.59 | — | 7/8 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $80.52 | — | 5/5 |
| Illinois | 100% | $80.20 | — | 89/102 |
| Pennsylvania | 91% | $78.72 | $73.65 | 35/67 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $78.42 | — | 72/72 |
| Alaska | 100% | $76.77 | — | 30/30 |
| Michigan | 94% | $72.52 | $26.83 | 83/83 |
| Oregon | 100% | $70.50 | — | 36/36 |
| Missouri | 100% | $69.71 | — | 37/115 |
| Kansas | 30% | $68.31 | $47.35 | 20/105 |
| West Virginia | 100% | $68.26 | — | 55/55 |
| North Dakota | 49% | $65.45 | $42.65 | 53/53 |
| Kentucky | 100% | $61.58 | — | 120/120 |
| Ohio | 90% | $60.55 | $41.38 | 59/88 |
| Iowa | 42% | $58.87 | $27.92 | 99/99 |
| Virginia | 76% | $58.04 | $34.32 | 79/133 |
| Indiana | 100% | $56.90 | — | 49/92 |
| Oklahoma | 100% | $55.19 | — | 77/77 |
| Nebraska | 100% | $55.13 | — | 9/93 |
| Georgia | 100% | $54.61 | — | 159/159 |
| Montana | 77% | $54.20 | $31.45 | 52/56 |
| South Dakota | 100% | $53.09 | — | 58/66 |
| Idaho | 12% | $52.24 | $37.82 | 33/44 |
| Colorado | 100% | $51.29 | — | 17/64 |
| Florida | 100% | $51.10 | — | 67/67 |
| Mississippi | 94% | $50.05 | $24.98 | 16/82 |
| Tennessee | 78% | $49.65 | $29.31 | 95/95 |
| Arizona | 100% | $49.56 | — | 15/15 |
| Arkansas | 73% | $49.25 | $17.52 | 75/75 |
| Alabama | 100% | $46.62 | — | 29/67 |
| Texas | 30% | $45.95 | $21.33 | 254/254 |
| New Mexico | 52% | $36.08 | $28.98 | 25/33 |
| Louisiana | 100% | $31.81 | — | 35/64 |
| Delaware | 0% | — | $48.42 | 3/3 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $61.10 | 24/24 |
| Maine | 0% | — | $31.44 | 11/16 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $21.62 | 54/100 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $31.25 | 3/10 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $91.83 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $21.41 | 21/46 |
| Vermont | 0% | — | $25.58 | 11/14 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $66.00 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of crane operators to change by +3.8% over 2025-35, from 42,900 to 44,500, with about 3,500 openings a year.
Of those openings, 200 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 3,300 from replacement: 1,000 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 2,300 for people who move to another occupation.
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as increased ship sizes are causing ports to automate their operations in order to meet shipping schedules and demand.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: less than 5 years; on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Arizona projects the fastest growth for crane operators at +21.5%; by openings, Texas (640 a year), Florida (250 a year), California (200 a year) lead. 50 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1,140 | 1,390 | +21.5% | 130 |
| Colorado | 590 | 700 | +18.3% | 70 |
| Arkansas | 690 | 800 | +16.2% | 80 |
| Massachusetts | 450 | 530 | +16.1% | 50 |
| Wyoming | 120 | 140 | +14.4% | 10 |
| Idaho | 190 | 210 | +13.8% | 20 |
| New Mexico | 110 | 120 | +13.8% | 10 |
| Rhode Island | 30 | 30 | +13.8% | 0 |
| Florida | 2,490 | 2,780 | +11.9% | 250 |
| South Dakota | 60 | 60 | +10.9% | 10 |
| Connecticut | 230 | 250 | +9.6% | 20 |
| Alabama | 1,190 | 1,300 | +9.4% | 120 |
| Delaware | 80 | 80 | +9.3% | 10 |
| Oregon | 440 | 490 | +9.2% | 40 |
| North Dakota | 220 | 240 | +8.7% | 20 |
| Utah | 510 | 550 | +8.3% | 50 |
| Texas | 6,560 | 7,100 | +8.2% | 640 |
| Tennessee | 780 | 850 | +8.0% | 80 |
| Nebraska | 280 | 300 | +7.4% | 30 |
| South Carolina | 980 | 1,050 | +7.3% | 90 |
| Washington | 1,280 | 1,380 | +7.2% | 130 |
| New Hampshire | 180 | 200 | +6.5% | 20 |
| Georgia | 1,720 | 1,830 | +6.0% | 160 |
| Montana | 120 | 120 | +6.0% | 10 |
| Wisconsin | 720 | 760 | +6.0% | 70 |
| District of Columbia | 40 | 40 | +5.4% | 0 |
| Maryland | 760 | 800 | +5.1% | 70 |
| Mississippi | 770 | 810 | +4.9% | 70 |
| California | 2,100 | 2,200 | +4.8% | 200 |
| Missouri | 700 | 730 | +4.7% | 60 |
| North Carolina | 1,100 | 1,150 | +4.4% | 100 |
| Iowa | 610 | 640 | +3.9% | 60 |
| Kansas | 620 | 640 | +3.9% | 60 |
| Alaska | 80 | 90 | +3.5% | 10 |
| Indiana | 1,650 | 1,700 | +3.4% | 150 |
| Louisiana | 1,780 | 1,840 | +3.4% | 160 |
| Kentucky | 770 | 790 | +3.3% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | 540 | 560 | +3.3% | 50 |
| Vermont | 130 | 130 | +3.1% | 10 |
| Illinois | 1,100 | 1,140 | +3.0% | 100 |
| New Jersey | 720 | 740 | +2.8% | 60 |
| West Virginia | 180 | 180 | +2.8% | 20 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,950 | 2,000 | +2.5% | 170 |
| Virginia | 1,220 | 1,250 | +2.4% | 120 |
| Michigan | 1,190 | 1,200 | +1.3% | 100 |
| Hawaii | 230 | 230 | +0.9% | 20 |
| Minnesota | 170 | 170 | +0.6% | 20 |
| New York | 1,340 | 1,340 | +0.2% | 110 |
| Ohio | 2,180 | 2,170 | -0.6% | 180 |
| Maine | 420 | 390 | -7.1% | 30 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare crane operator pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $20.50 at the 10th percentile to $49.79 at the 90th, with a median of $32.73. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice crane operator make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $20.50 to $25.29 an hour ($42,640 to $52,600 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays crane operators the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $59.74 an hour in May 2025, followed by Nevada ($55.69) and Rhode Island ($50.16). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are crane operator wages going up?
In today's dollars the median crane operator wage changed by -3.0% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $24.83 to $32.73.
Is crane operator a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $68,080 a year, a 90th percentile of $103,570, projected growth of +3.8% and about 3,500 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are crane operator jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 42,890 crane operators in May 2025, -7.7% compared with ten years earlier and -5.7% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +3.8% growth over 2025-35 with about 3,500 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most crane operators?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put Texas (640 a year, +8.2% growth), Florida (250 a year, +11.9% growth), California (200 a year, +4.8% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are crane operators most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Louisiana has the highest concentration at 3.6× the national share, then Wyoming (3.0×) and Indiana (2.6×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 53-7021 (Crane and tower operators). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.