Crane operator salary in Minnesota
Median $38.91 an hour for 370 crane and tower operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
$38.91/hrMedian hourly wageMinnesota, May data
$80,930/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$25.28 – $56.2010th to 90th percentilehourly range
370Jobs countedemployer survey
Crane operator pay in Minnesota: the full range
Minnesota ranks 14th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $39.46). 370 crane and tower operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $25.28 – $27.98 | $52,590 – $58,210 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $27.98 – $55.04 | $58,210 – $114,480 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $55.04 – $56.20 | $114,480 – $116,890 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in Minnesota
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $25.69 | $47.86 | $58.04 | 180 | 23% above |
| Fargo | $28.75 | $39.41 | $50.91 | 40 | 1% above |
| Duluth | $24.56 | $36.17 | $50.34 | 40 | 7% below |
| Sioux Falls | $22.47 | $30.75 | $34.80 | 70 | 21% below |
| St. Cloud | $17.93 | $27.73 | $51.37 | 30 | 29% below |
Crane operator wages in Minnesota over time
Table
| Year | Minnesota $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $16.05 | $31.02 | $15.29 | 640 |
| 2000 | $16.07 | $30.04 | $15.89 | 590 |
| 2001 | $17.04 | $30.98 | $16.64 | 620 |
| 2002 | $17.03 | $30.48 | $17.47 | 750 |
| 2003 | $18.73 | $32.77 | $17.86 | 690 |
| 2004 | $22.87 | $38.98 | $17.99 | 660 |
| 2005 | $25.56 | $42.13 | $18.69 | 650 |
| 2006 | $22.52 | $35.96 | $18.77 | 510 |
| 2007 | $21.74 | $33.76 | $19.36 | 600 |
| 2008 | $22.56 | $33.73 | $20.13 | 480 |
| 2009 | $24.28 | $36.44 | $21.22 | 450 |
| 2010 | $25.31 | $37.37 | $22.23 | 410 |
| 2011 | $25.62 | $36.67 | $22.34 | 650 |
| 2012 | $26.52 | $37.19 | $22.73 | 880 |
| 2013 | $27.59 | $38.13 | $23.38 | 960 |
| 2014 | $31.16 | $42.38 | $24.39 | 910 |
| 2015 | $31.99 | $43.45 | $24.83 | 940 |
| 2016 | $32.83 | $44.04 | $25.08 | 950 |
| 2017 | $27.62 | $36.28 | $25.10 | 620 |
| 2018 | $23.32 | $29.90 | $26.03 | 480 |
| 2019 | $25.46 | $32.06 | $27.26 | 460 |
| 2020 | $25.96 | $32.29 | $28.71 | 540 |
| 2021 | $29.99 | $35.63 | $29.92 | 280 |
| 2022 | $32.88 | $36.17 | $29.49 | 200 |
| 2023 | $34.98 | $36.96 | $31.10 | 170 |
| 2024 | $32.36 | $33.21 | $31.91 | 170 |
| 2025 | $38.91 | $38.91 | $32.73 | 370 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Minnesota changed by -10.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Minnesota?
164.2kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-08
+4.9%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
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 | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | 9,056 | $106,136 | $2,041 |
| Hennepin County | 21,844 | $98,504 | $1,894 |
| Goodhue County | 777 | $96,065 | $1,847 |
| Carlton County | 440 | $95,378 | $1,834 |
| Washington County | 3,021 | $93,638 | $1,801 |
| Dakota County | 6,693 | $92,730 | $1,783 |
| Scott County | 3,459 | $89,101 | $1,713 |
| Kanabec County | 200 | $87,888 | $1,690 |
| Anoka County | 7,249 | $87,449 | $1,682 |
| Carver County | 1,779 | $87,233 | $1,678 |
| Le Sueur County | 414 | $85,520 | $1,645 |
| Chisago County | 763 | $85,347 | $1,641 |
| Benton County | 1,809 | $84,856 | $1,632 |
| Blue Earth County | 1,313 | $82,371 | $1,584 |
| Itasca County | 582 | $80,526 | $1,549 |
| Beltrami County | 712 | $80,477 | $1,548 |
| Chippewa County | 148 | $80,220 | $1,543 |
| Stearns County | 2,946 | $79,846 | $1,536 |
| Olmsted County | 3,049 | $79,793 | $1,534 |
| St. Louis County | 2,672 | $79,418 | $1,527 |
| Clearwater County | 210 | $79,142 | $1,522 |
| Koochiching County | 101 | $78,336 | $1,506 |
| Steele County | 439 | $77,470 | $1,490 |
| Wright County | 2,674 | $73,743 | $1,418 |
| Rice County | 674 | $73,018 | $1,404 |
| Sherburne County | 1,804 | $72,634 | $1,397 |
| Pipestone County | 268 | $72,024 | $1,385 |
| Dodge County | 239 | $71,880 | $1,382 |
| Becker County | 580 | $71,463 | $1,374 |
| Douglas County | 701 | $71,083 | $1,367 |
| McLeod County | 314 | $70,983 | $1,365 |
| Mower County | 399 | $70,606 | $1,358 |
| Meeker County | 366 | $69,446 | $1,336 |
| Renville County | 98 | $69,196 | $1,331 |
| Lyon County | 245 | $68,759 | $1,322 |
| Crow Wing County | 1,114 | $68,686 | $1,321 |
| Freeborn County | 329 | $68,510 | $1,318 |
| Marshall County | 85 | $68,399 | $1,315 |
| Martin County | 187 | $67,405 | $1,296 |
| Nicollet County | 228 | $67,367 | $1,296 |
| Morrison County | 300 | $67,240 | $1,293 |
| Cottonwood County | 136 | $66,895 | $1,286 |
| Nobles County | 113 | $66,445 | $1,278 |
| Isanti County | 555 | $65,120 | $1,252 |
| Mille Lacs County | 354 | $64,669 | $1,244 |
| Pine County | 258 | $64,342 | $1,237 |
| Cass County | 262 | $64,184 | $1,234 |
| Pope County | 90 | $63,530 | $1,222 |
| Redwood County | 146 | $63,434 | $1,220 |
| Stevens County | 66 | $63,184 | $1,215 |
| Lincoln County | 79 | $63,021 | $1,212 |
| Winona County | 504 | $62,320 | $1,198 |
| Wabasha County | 106 | $61,986 | $1,192 |
| Sibley County | 101 | $61,706 | $1,187 |
| Swift County | 156 | $60,544 | $1,164 |
| Polk County | 194 | $60,257 | $1,159 |
| Clay County | 660 | $59,723 | $1,149 |
| Otter Tail County | 684 | $59,452 | $1,143 |
| Watonwan County | 121 | $59,441 | $1,143 |
| Pennington County | 119 | $59,288 | $1,140 |
| Aitkin County | 154 | $59,207 | $1,139 |
| Grant County | 94 | $59,189 | $1,138 |
| Waseca County | 169 | $58,855 | $1,132 |
| Todd County | 212 | $58,534 | $1,126 |
| Kandiyohi County | 472 | $57,799 | $1,112 |
| Brown County | 332 | $57,622 | $1,108 |
| Hubbard County | 277 | $56,510 | $1,087 |
| Rock County | 104 | $56,473 | $1,086 |
| Faribault County | 157 | $54,523 | $1,049 |
| Wilkin County | 79 | $54,521 | $1,048 |
| Big Stone County | 58 | $53,662 | $1,032 |
| Fillmore County | 174 | $53,564 | $1,030 |
| Lake County | 57 | $52,487 | $1,009 |
| Kittson County | 62 | $51,825 | $997 |
| Murray County | 92 | $50,445 | $970 |
| Wadena County | 87 | $49,810 | $958 |
| Jackson County | 55 | $48,602 | $935 |
| Lac qui Parle County | 48 | $47,152 | $907 |
| Roseau County | 55 | $44,911 | $864 |
| Norman County | 29 | $41,553 | $799 |
| Cook County | — | — | — |
| Houston County | — | — | — |
| Lake of the Woods County | — | — | — |
| Mahnomen County | — | — | — |
| Red Lake County | — | — | — |
| Traverse County | — | — | — |
| Yellow Medicine County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Minnesota
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in Minnesota?
The median crane operator in Minnesota earned $38.91 an hour ($80,930 a year) in May 2025, 19% above the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $27.98–$55.04; the top 10% earn more than $56.20.
Where does Minnesota rank for crane operator pay?
Minnesota ranks 14th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $38.91 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.6, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in Minnesota?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a crane operator classification for most Minnesota counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many crane operators work in Minnesota?
BLS counted 370 crane and tower operators in Minnesota in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.45; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Minnesota 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.