Crane operator salary in Hawaii
Median $59.74 an hour for 190 crane operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Crane operator pay in Hawaii: the full range
Hawaii ranks 1st of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 2nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $54.31). 190 crane operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.4× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $46.46 – $56.80 | $96,640 – $118,140 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $56.80 – $61.45 | $118,140 – $127,820 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $61.45 – $63.09 | $127,820 – $131,220 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in Hawaii
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $46.46 | $57.96 | $63.68 | 170 | 3% below |
Crane operator wages in Hawaii over time
Table
| Year | Hawaii $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $25.72 | $49.70 | $15.29 | 140 |
| 2000 | $30.33 | $56.70 | $15.89 | 150 |
| 2001 | $28.57 | $51.94 | $16.64 | 130 |
| 2003 | $32.78 | $57.35 | $17.86 | 120 |
| 2004 | $27.91 | $47.57 | $17.99 | 110 |
| 2005 | $30.55 | $50.36 | $18.69 | 160 |
| 2006 | $30.04 | $47.97 | $18.77 | 230 |
| 2007 | $31.76 | $49.31 | $19.36 | 210 |
| 2008 | $31.77 | $47.51 | $20.13 | 130 |
| 2009 | $33.78 | $50.69 | $21.22 | 110 |
| 2010 | $34.96 | $51.62 | $22.23 | 130 |
| 2011 | $35.58 | $50.92 | $22.34 | 150 |
| 2012 | $34.71 | $48.67 | $22.73 | 110 |
| 2013 | $35.58 | $49.17 | $23.38 | 120 |
| 2014 | $35.59 | $48.40 | $24.39 | 130 |
| 2015 | $35.95 | $48.83 | $24.83 | 160 |
| 2016 | $36.32 | $48.72 | $25.08 | 190 |
| 2017 | $36.81 | $48.35 | $25.10 | 150 |
| 2018 | $41.46 | $53.16 | $26.03 | 120 |
| 2019 | — | — | $27.26 | 70 |
| 2020 | — | — | $28.71 | 80 |
| 2021 | $47.55 | $56.49 | $29.92 | 90 |
| 2022 | $54.34 | $59.78 | $29.49 | 240 |
| 2023 | $54.57 | $57.66 | $31.10 | 260 |
| 2024 | $55.71 | $57.18 | $31.91 | 220 |
| 2025 | $59.74 | $59.74 | $32.73 | 190 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Hawaii changed by +22.3% over the last ten years of data.
Are there more crane operator jobs in Hawaii?
BLS counted 190 crane operators in Hawaii in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 6%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for crane operators in Hawaii
Hawaii's labor market agency projects the number of crane operators in the state to change by +0.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 230 to 230, with about 20 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 190 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Hawaii labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Hawaii?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just crane operators), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County | 1,524 | 15,928 | $92,484 | $1,779 |
| Maui County | 449 | 2,336 | $80,950 | $1,557 |
| Hawaii County | — | — | — | — |
| Kauai County | — | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Hawaii
More on Hawaii
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in Hawaii?
The median crane operator in Hawaii earned $59.74 an hour ($124,260 a year) in May 2025, 83% above the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $56.80–$61.45; the top 10% earn more than $63.09.
Where does Hawaii rank for crane operator pay?
Hawaii ranks 1st of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $59.74 an hour, and 2nd after adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.0, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in Hawaii?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a crane operator classification for most Hawaii counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many crane operators work in Hawaii?
BLS counted 190 crane operators in Hawaii in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.10; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is crane operator work growing in Hawaii?
Hawaii's labor market agency projects +0.9% growth for crane operators between 2024 and 2034, from 230 to 230 jobs.
How many crane operator openings a year are there in Hawaii?
Hawaii projects about 20 openings a year for crane operators over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 3,500 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Hawaii and metro areas, SOC 53-7021. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Hawaii labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.