Crane operator salary in New Jersey
Median $48.39 an hour for 1,000 crane and tower operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Crane operator pay in New Jersey: the full range
New Jersey ranks 5th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 7th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $44.48). 1,000 crane and tower operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $31.49 – $43.28 | $65,510 – $90,020 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $43.28 – $59.95 | $90,020 – $124,700 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $59.95 – $62.29 | $124,700 – $129,570 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in New Jersey
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $32.32 | $48.38 | $71.55 | 1,500 | about the same as |
| Atlantic City | $30.06 | $46.40 | $53.03 | 40 | 4% below |
| Philadelphia | $25.94 | $34.62 | $59.72 | 790 | 28% below |
| Allentown | $19.38 | $30.38 | $40.22 | 90 | 37% below |
Crane operator wages in New Jersey over time
Table
| Year | New Jersey $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.54 | $33.89 | $15.29 | 520 |
| 2000 | $19.85 | $37.11 | $15.89 | 640 |
| 2001 | $18.20 | $33.09 | $16.64 | 720 |
| 2002 | $19.01 | $34.02 | $17.47 | 560 |
| 2003 | $22.10 | $38.67 | $17.86 | 750 |
| 2004 | $22.97 | $39.15 | $17.99 | 880 |
| 2005 | $25.59 | $42.18 | $18.69 | 1,140 |
| 2006 | $25.36 | $40.50 | $18.77 | 820 |
| 2007 | $27.01 | $41.94 | $19.36 | 870 |
| 2008 | $26.37 | $39.43 | $20.13 | 620 |
| 2009 | $24.66 | $37.01 | $21.22 | 750 |
| 2010 | $24.65 | $36.39 | $22.23 | 700 |
| 2011 | $26.02 | $37.24 | $22.34 | 680 |
| 2012 | $26.24 | $36.79 | $22.73 | 510 |
| 2013 | $30.42 | $42.04 | $23.38 | 540 |
| 2014 | $31.50 | $42.84 | $24.39 | 560 |
| 2015 | $32.93 | $44.73 | $24.83 | 710 |
| 2016 | $33.58 | $45.04 | $25.08 | 740 |
| 2017 | $33.54 | $44.05 | $25.10 | 710 |
| 2018 | $33.59 | $43.07 | $26.03 | 760 |
| 2019 | $35.88 | $45.18 | $27.26 | 800 |
| 2020 | — | — | $28.71 | 840 |
| 2021 | $55.95 | $66.47 | $29.92 | 1,110 |
| 2022 | $44.00 | $48.40 | $29.49 | 640 |
| 2023 | $39.37 | $41.60 | $31.10 | 670 |
| 2024 | $42.54 | $43.66 | $31.91 | 740 |
| 2025 | $48.39 | $48.39 | $32.73 | 1,000 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in New Jersey changed by +8.2% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in New Jersey?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 9,199 | $97,416 | $1,873 |
| Hudson County | 3,007 | $95,564 | $1,838 |
| Mercer County | 3,543 | $94,905 | $1,825 |
| Morris County | 8,730 | $91,378 | $1,757 |
| Union County | 6,308 | $91,096 | $1,752 |
| Gloucester County | 4,374 | $90,128 | $1,733 |
| Hunterdon County | 1,945 | $90,014 | $1,731 |
| Essex County | 6,092 | $89,479 | $1,721 |
| Camden County | 6,357 | $89,390 | $1,719 |
| Somerset County | 4,438 | $88,130 | $1,695 |
| Burlington County | 4,355 | $86,431 | $1,662 |
| Passaic County | 5,178 | $85,739 | $1,649 |
| Bergen County | 10,349 | $85,664 | $1,647 |
| Monmouth County | 11,076 | $85,517 | $1,645 |
| Cumberland County | 2,266 | $83,102 | $1,598 |
| Sussex County | 1,492 | $79,240 | $1,524 |
| Salem County | 878 | $76,104 | $1,464 |
| Warren County | 823 | $75,370 | $1,449 |
| Atlantic County | 3,513 | $74,034 | $1,424 |
| Ocean County | 7,254 | $70,401 | $1,354 |
| Cape May County | 1,602 | $59,055 | $1,136 |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Jersey
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in New Jersey?
The median crane operator in New Jersey earned $48.39 an hour ($100,640 a year) in May 2025, 48% above the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $43.28–$59.95; the top 10% earn more than $62.29.
Where does New Jersey rank for crane operator pay?
New Jersey ranks 5th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $48.39 an hour, and 7th after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in New Jersey?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a crane operator classification for most New Jersey counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many crane operators work in New Jersey?
BLS counted 1,000 crane and tower operators in New Jersey in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Jersey 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.