Skilled Wages

Crane operator salary in Michigan

Median $28.72 an hour for 1,310 crane and tower operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$28.72/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$59,740/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.40 – $47.6410th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,310Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Crane operator pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMichigan: 10th $21.40 · 25th $23.79 · median $28.72 · 75th $42.65 · 90th $47.64Michigan$28.72$21.40$47.64United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $25.29 · median $32.73 · 75th $40.00 · 90th $49.79United States$32.73
Hourly wage percentiles for crane and tower operators: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 43rd of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.85). 1,310 crane and tower operators work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$21.40 – $23.79$44,510 – $49,480roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$23.79 – $42.65$49,480 – $88,710the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$42.65 – $47.64$88,710 – $99,090the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Crane operator pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrSaginaw: $36.90Saginaw$36.90Detroit: $28.72Detroit$28.72Grand Rapids: $26.23Grand Rapids$26.23Monroe: $23.79Monroe$23.79South Bend: $23.77South Bend$23.77
Median hourly wage for crane and tower operators by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Saginaw$23.04$36.90$45.213028% above
Detroit$21.31$28.72$48.29650about the same as
Grand Rapids$21.40$26.23$46.132309% below
Monroe$21.12$23.79$36.886017% below
South Bend$19.32$23.77$41.084017% below

Crane operator wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 1999-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$32.73United States$28.72Michigan
Median hourly wage for crane and tower operators, Michigan vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.32$31.54$15.293,310
2000$16.92$31.63$15.892,750
2001$17.95$32.63$16.642,340
2002$18.48$33.07$17.472,030
2003$19.35$33.86$17.861,730
2004$22.63$38.57$17.991,410
2005$23.47$38.69$18.691,510
2006$23.76$37.94$18.771,230
2007$23.64$36.71$19.361,030
2008$25.74$38.49$20.131,090
2009$25.79$38.70$21.22890
2010$27.35$40.38$22.23700
2011$23.31$33.36$22.34730
2012$21.41$30.02$22.73740
2013$20.72$28.63$23.38770
2014$23.45$31.89$24.39810
2015$28.41$38.59$24.831,120
2016$28.55$38.30$25.081,180
2017$23.47$30.83$25.10840
2018$20.96$26.87$26.031,080
2019$21.25$26.76$27.261,100
2020$21.55$26.81$28.711,210
2021$23.94$28.44$29.92910
2022$30.02$33.02$29.491,160
2023$26.17$27.65$31.101,250
2024$37.07$38.05$31.911,210
2025$28.72$28.72$32.731,310

In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Michigan changed by -25.6% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay crane operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 78 of the 83 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $72.52 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.83). 5 of the 83 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Barry County at $26.83). The market median for the state is $28.72.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $69.38 (union)Alger: $69.92 (union)Allegan: $72.53 (union)Alpena: $69.38 (union)Antrim: $66.53 (union)Arenac: $72.53 (union)Baraga: $69.92 (union)Barry: $26.83 (survey)Bay: $72.53 (union)Benzie: $66.53 (union)Berrien: $72.53 (union)Branch: $72.53 (union)Calhoun: $72.53 (union)Cass: $72.53 (union)Charlevoix: $66.53 (union)Cheboygan: $69.38 (union)Chippewa: $33.08 (survey)Clare: $72.53 (union)Clinton: $72.53 (union)Crawford: $69.38 (union)Delta: $69.92 (union)Dickinson: $69.92 (union)Eaton: $72.53 (union)Emmet: $66.53 (union)Genesee: $72.53 (union)Gladwin: $65.68 (union)Gogebic: $69.92 (union)Grand Traverse: $66.53 (union)Gratiot: $72.53 (union)Hillsdale: $72.53 (union)Houghton: $69.92 (union)Huron: $72.53 (union)Ingham: $72.53 (union)Ionia: $26.83 (survey)Iosco: $72.53 (union)Iron: $69.92 (union)Isabella: $65.68 (union)Jackson: $72.53 (union)Kalamazoo: $72.53 (union)Kalkaska: $66.53 (union)Kent: $25.97 (survey)Keweenaw: $69.92 (union)Lake: $72.53 (union)Lapeer: $72.53 (union)Leelanau: $66.53 (union)Lenawee: $71.66 (union)Livingston: $72.53 (union)Luce: $69.92 (union)Mackinac: $69.92 (union)Macomb: $76.64 (union)Manistee: $66.53 (union)Marquette: $69.92 (union)Mason: $72.53 (union)Mecosta: $72.53 (union)Menominee: $69.92 (union)Midland: $72.53 (union)Missaukee: $72.53 (union)Monroe: $72.52 (union)Montcalm: $72.53 (union)Montmorency: $69.38 (union)Muskegon: $26.15 (survey)Newaygo: $72.53 (union)Oakland: $76.64 (union)Oceana: $72.53 (union)Ogemaw: $69.38 (union)Ontonagon: $69.92 (union)Osceola: $72.53 (union)Oscoda: $69.38 (union)Otsego: $69.38 (union)Ottawa: $72.53 (union)Presque Isle: $69.38 (union)Roscommon: $69.38 (union)Saginaw: $72.53 (union)St. Clair: $76.64 (union)St. Joseph: $72.53 (union)Sanilac: $65.68 (union)Schoolcraft: $69.92 (union)Shiawassee: $72.53 (union)Tuscola: $65.68 (union)Van Buren: $72.53 (union)Washtenaw: $72.52 (union)Wayne: $76.64 (union)Wexford: $66.53 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$66.53$69.92$72.53survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for crane operators by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrCass (South Bend): market median $23.77, prevailing (union) $72.53, gap +$48.76Cass (South Bend)+$48.76Monroe (Monroe): market median $23.79, prevailing (union) $72.52, gap +$48.73Monroe (Monroe)+$48.73Macomb (Detroit): market median $28.72, prevailing (union) $76.64, gap +$47.92Macomb (Detroit)+$47.92Montcalm (Grand Rapids): market median $26.23, prevailing (union) $72.53, gap +$46.30Montcalm (Grand Rapids)+$46.30Bay (Michigan): market median $28.72, prevailing (union) $72.53, gap +$43.81Bay (Michigan)+$43.81Saginaw (Saginaw): market median $36.90, prevailing (union) $72.53, gap +$35.63Saginaw (Saginaw)+$35.63
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for crane operators, metro counties in Michigan.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MacombUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$51.29$25.35$76.64MI20260091
OaklandUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$51.29$25.35$76.64MI20260095
St. ClairUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$51.29$25.35$76.64MI20260098
WayneUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$51.29$25.35$76.64MI20260101
AlleganUnion ENGI0324-027 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260104
ArenacUnion ENGI0324-022 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260107
BayUnion ENGI0324-001 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260077
BerrienUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260078
BranchUnion ENGI0324-028 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260110
CalhounUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260079
CassUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260080
ClareUnion ENGI0324-022 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260114
ClintonUnion ENGI0324-010 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260081
EatonUnion ENGI0324-010 2024-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260082
GeneseeUnion ENGI0324-011 2023-06-01$47.28$25.25$72.53MI20260083

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Michigan prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

211.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-08
-1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025211kAug 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Dickinson County707$102,654$1,974
Kalkaska County317$100,718$1,937
Oakland County21,304$95,370$1,834
Monroe County1,461$95,332$1,833
Wayne County16,808$92,147$1,772
Genesee County5,228$86,793$1,669
Muskegon County1,898$84,641$1,628
Macomb County12,658$84,297$1,621
Washtenaw County3,154$84,026$1,616
Kent County13,928$83,955$1,615
Kalamazoo County4,400$82,733$1,591
Calhoun County1,463$82,475$1,586

Keep comparing

Crane operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do crane operators make in Michigan?

The median crane operator in Michigan earned $28.72 an hour ($59,740 a year) in May 2025, 12% below the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $23.79–$42.65; the top 10% earn more than $47.64.

Where does Michigan rank for crane operator pay?

Michigan ranks 43rd of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $28.72 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union crane operator rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for crane operators in 78 counties, with a typical package of $72.52 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many crane operators work in Michigan?

BLS counted 1,310 crane and tower operators in Michigan in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.08; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan and metro areas, SOC 53-7021.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.