Crane operator salary in Massachusetts
Median $47.19 an hour for 680 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 Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 6th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $44.60). 680 crane operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $28.78 – $36.83 | $59,860 – $76,610 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $36.83 – $62.40 | $76,610 – $129,790 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $62.40 – $62.40 | $129,790 – $129,790 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $34.25 | $58.78 | $57.35 | $67.82 | 110 | 25% above |
| Boston | $28.53 | $47.19 | $43.57 | $62.40 | 500 | about the same as |
| Springfield | $29.04 | $43.42 | $45.18 | $57.42 | 40 | 8% below |
| Providence | $26.46 | $43.21 | $42.45 | $61.51 | 130 | 8% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Crane operator wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.02 | $36.75 | $15.29 | 730 |
| 2000 | $20.15 | $37.67 | $15.89 | 790 |
| 2001 | $21.31 | $38.74 | $16.64 | 640 |
| 2002 | $23.88 | $42.73 | $17.47 | 820 |
| 2003 | $25.26 | $44.20 | $17.86 | 740 |
| 2004 | $24.76 | $42.20 | $17.99 | 540 |
| 2006 | $27.04 | $43.18 | $18.77 | 300 |
| 2007 | $27.13 | $42.13 | $19.36 | 340 |
| 2008 | $19.05 | $28.49 | $20.13 | 380 |
| 2009 | $19.12 | $28.69 | $21.22 | 400 |
| 2010 | $22.23 | $32.82 | $22.23 | 410 |
| 2011 | $30.34 | $43.42 | $22.34 | 380 |
| 2012 | $31.61 | $44.32 | $22.73 | 340 |
| 2013 | $24.33 | $33.62 | $23.38 | 360 |
| 2014 | $24.30 | $33.05 | $24.39 | 440 |
| 2015 | $23.97 | $32.56 | $24.83 | 430 |
| 2016 | $27.29 | $36.61 | $25.08 | 520 |
| 2017 | $26.09 | $34.27 | $25.10 | 440 |
| 2018 | $28.69 | $36.78 | $26.03 | 600 |
| 2019 | $28.90 | $36.39 | $27.26 | 430 |
| 2020 | $29.78 | $37.04 | $28.71 | 320 |
| 2021 | $29.13 | $34.61 | $29.92 | 630 |
| 2022 | $32.73 | $36.01 | $29.49 | 410 |
| 2023 | $42.77 | $45.19 | $31.10 | 620 |
| 2024 | $36.84 | $37.81 | $31.91 | 480 |
| 2025 | $47.19 | $47.19 | $32.73 | 680 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Massachusetts changed by +44.9% over the last ten years of data and by +29.7% since 2019.
Are there more crane operator jobs in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 680 crane operators in Massachusetts in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 42%. 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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts's labor market agency projects the number of crane operators in the state to change by +16.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 450 to 530, with about 50 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 680 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay crane operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 12 of the 12 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $91.53 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $47.19.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Suffolk | Union ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01 | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | MA20260001 |
| Berkshire | Union ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01 | $42.41 | $30.58 | $72.99 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01 | $42.41 | $30.58 | $72.99 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01 | $42.41 | $30.58 | $72.99 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01 | $42.41 | $30.58 | $72.99 | MA20260003 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
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. Across the 14 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 92,697 in 2015 to 113,325 in 2025, +22.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 699 | 7,304 | $114,740 | $2,207 |
| Norfolk County | 1,570 | 15,879 | $111,044 | $2,135 |
| Middlesex County | 3,330 | 30,290 | $102,132 | $1,964 |
| Plymouth County | 1,423 | 11,316 | $100,512 | $1,933 |
| Nantucket County | 278 | 728 | $92,732 | $1,783 |
| Essex County | 1,711 | 11,307 | $91,756 | $1,765 |
| Worcester County | 1,866 | 11,590 | $90,722 | $1,745 |
| Dukes County | 169 | 535 | $90,408 | $1,739 |
| Bristol County | 1,244 | 9,754 | $88,917 | $1,710 |
| Hampden County | 658 | 5,659 | $87,478 | $1,682 |
| Barnstable County | 963 | 4,461 | $82,396 | $1,585 |
| Hampshire County | 272 | 1,676 | $81,930 | $1,576 |
| Berkshire County | 373 | 2,087 | $76,043 | $1,462 |
| Franklin County | 124 | 739 | $68,938 | $1,326 |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
More on Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in Massachusetts?
The median crane operator in Massachusetts earned $47.19 an hour ($98,150 a year) in May 2025, 44% above the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $36.83–$62.40; the top 10% earn more than $62.40.
Where does Massachusetts rank for crane operator pay?
Massachusetts ranks 6th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $47.19 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for crane operators in 12 counties, with a typical package of $91.53 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many crane operators work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 680 crane operators in Massachusetts in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.68; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is crane operator work growing in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's labor market agency projects +16.1% growth for crane operators between 2024 and 2034, from 450 to 530 jobs.
How many crane operator openings a year are there in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts projects about 50 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, Massachusetts 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: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.