Skilled Wages

Crane operator salary in Pennsylvania

Median $31.34 an hour for 1,630 crane operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$31.34/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$65,190/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.31 – $51.1410th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,630Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Crane operator pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrPennsylvania: 10th $21.31 · 25th $25.85 · median $31.34 · 75th $36.09 · 90th $51.14Pennsylvania$31.34$21.31$51.14United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $25.29 · median $32.73 · 75th $40.00 · 90th $49.79United States$32.73
Hourly wage percentiles for crane operators: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 37th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.11). 1,630 crane operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.31 – $25.85$44,320 – $53,770roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$25.85 – $36.09$53,770 – $75,070the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$36.09 – $51.14$75,070 – $106,380the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Crane operator pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrReading: $47.53Reading$47.53Lancaster: $34.69Lancaster$34.69Philadelphia: $34.62Philadelphia$34.62Scranton: $34.51Scranton$34.51York: $30.62York$30.62Allentown: $30.38Allentown$30.38Pittsburgh: $29.57Pittsburgh$29.57Harrisburg: $24.73Harrisburg$24.73
Median hourly wage for crane operators by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Reading$24.98$47.53$48.95$47.536052% above
Lancaster$25.59$34.69$35.29$37.618011% above
Philadelphia$25.94$34.62$33.74$59.7279010% above
Scranton$22.91$34.51$36.87$46.145010% above
York$22.23$30.62$31.90$35.31602% below
Allentown$19.38$30.38$30.38$40.22903% below
Pittsburgh$18.64$29.57$31.22$54.763306% below
Harrisburg$24.52$24.73$25.06$35.468021% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Crane operator wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$32.73United States$31.34Pennsylvania
Median hourly wage for crane operators, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.30$29.57$15.293,990
2000$15.29$28.59$15.893,620
2001$16.28$29.59$16.642,800
2002$17.04$30.49$17.472,800
2003$17.62$30.83$17.862,430
2004$17.53$29.88$17.992,260
2005$16.60$27.36$18.692,020
2006$17.60$28.11$18.772,000
2007$18.09$28.09$19.362,300
2008$18.64$27.87$20.132,070
2009$19.06$28.60$21.222,000
2010$20.84$30.77$22.231,880
2011$23.28$33.32$22.342,100
2012$24.72$34.66$22.731,940
2013$21.93$30.31$23.381,670
2014$21.99$29.90$24.392,010
2015$22.41$30.44$24.832,210
2016$23.70$31.79$25.082,840
2017$24.06$31.60$25.103,020
2018$22.46$28.80$26.033,140
2019$22.30$28.08$27.262,700
2020$23.74$29.53$28.712,290
2021$26.86$31.91$29.922,040
2022$26.21$28.83$29.491,940
2023$26.55$28.05$31.101,730
2024$27.77$28.50$31.911,650
2025$31.34$31.34$32.731,630

In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Pennsylvania changed by +3.0% over the last ten years of data and by +11.6% since 2019.

Are there more crane operator jobs in Pennsylvania?

0.3Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 26th of 47 states

BLS counted 1,630 crane operators in Pennsylvania in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 23%. 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 Pennsylvania

+2.5%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
170Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,950Jobs in 20242,000 projected for 2034
+3.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of crane operators in the state to change by +2.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,950 to 2,000, with about 170 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,630 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators in Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay crane operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 32 of the 35 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $78.72 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $73.65). The market median for the state is $31.34.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: $78.72 (union)Allegheny: n/aArmstrong: n/aBeaver: n/aBedford: n/aBerks: $68.72 (union)Blair: n/aBradford: $78.72 (union)Bucks: $88.69 (union)Butler: n/aCambria: n/aCameron: n/aCarbon: $61.72 (union)Centre: n/aChester: $88.69 (union)Clarion: n/aClearfield: n/aClinton: n/aColumbia: $78.72 (union)Crawford: n/aCumberland: $78.72 (union)Dauphin: $78.72 (union)Delaware: $88.69 (union)Elk: n/aErie: n/aFayette: n/aForest: n/aFranklin: $78.72 (union)Fulton: n/aGreene: n/aHuntingdon: n/aIndiana: n/aJefferson: n/aJuniata: $78.72 (union)Lackawanna: n/aLancaster: $78.72 (union)Lawrence: n/aLebanon: $78.72 (union)Lehigh: $61.72 (union)Luzerne: $78.72 (union)Lycoming: $71.81 (survey)McKean: n/aMercer: n/aMifflin: $78.72 (union)Monroe: $73.95 (survey)Montgomery: $88.69 (union)Montour: $78.72 (union)Northampton: $61.72 (union)Northumberland: $78.72 (union)Perry: $78.72 (union)Philadelphia: $88.69 (union)Pike: $73.65 (survey)Potter: n/aSchuylkill: $78.72 (union)Snyder: $78.72 (union)Somerset: n/aSullivan: $78.72 (union)Susquehanna: $78.72 (union)Tioga: $78.72 (union)Union: $78.72 (union)Venango: n/aWarren: n/aWashington: n/aWayne: $78.72 (union)Westmoreland: n/aWyoming: $70.72 (union)York: $75.81 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$73.89$78.72n/asurvey 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/hrBucks (Philadelphia): market median $34.62, prevailing (union) $88.69, gap +$54.07Bucks (Philadelphia)+$54.07Cumberland (Harrisburg): market median $24.73, prevailing (union) $78.72, gap +$53.99Cumberland (Harrisburg)+$53.99Adams (Pennsylvania): market median $31.34, prevailing (union) $78.72, gap +$47.38Adams (Pennsylvania)+$47.38York (York): market median $30.62, prevailing (union) $75.81, gap +$45.19York (York)+$45.19Luzerne (Scranton): market median $34.51, prevailing (union) $78.72, gap +$44.21Luzerne (Scranton)+$44.21Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $34.69, prevailing (union) $78.72, gap +$44.03Lancaster (Lancaster)+$44.03Carbon (Allentown): market median $30.38, prevailing (union) $61.72, gap +$31.34Carbon (Allentown)+$31.34Berks (Reading): market median $47.53, prevailing (union) $68.72, gap +$21.19Berks (Reading)+$21.19
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for crane operators, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BucksUnion ENGI0542-034 2025-05-01$54.27$34.42$88.69PA20260078
ChesterUnion ENGI0542-034 2025-05-01$54.27$34.42$88.69PA20260083
DelawareUnion ENGI0542-034 2025-05-01$54.27$34.42$88.69PA20260087
MontgomeryUnion ENGI0542-040 2025-05-01$54.27$34.42$88.69PA20260099
PhiladelphiaUnion ENGI0542-002 2025-05-01$54.27$34.42$88.69PA20260003
AdamsUnion ENGI0542-032 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260073
BradfordUnion ENGI0542-025 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260044
ColumbiaUnion ENGI0542-036 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260084
CumberlandUnion ENGI0542-032 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260085
DauphinUnion ENGI0542-032 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260086
FranklinUnion ENGI0542-032 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260090
JuniataUnion ENGI0542-029 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260057
LancasterUnion ENGI0542-032 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260092
LebanonUnion ENGI0542-032 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260093
LuzerneUnion ENGI0542-038 2025-05-01$47.14$31.58$78.72PA20260095

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Pennsylvania prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (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. Across the 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 139,301 in 2015 to 159,871 in 2025, +14.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County8466,693$98,589$1,896
Montgomery County1,54016,106$96,595$1,858
Delaware County9088,209$90,253$1,736
Bucks County1,63813,004$89,660$1,724
Chester County9288,219$88,826$1,708
Dauphin County2824,004$87,575$1,684
Allegheny County1,73419,111$84,965$1,634
Berks County5965,685$84,441$1,624
Lehigh County4244,680$83,544$1,607
York County6256,931$83,318$1,602
Washington County4334,102$81,236$1,562
Lawrence County124937$80,439$1,547

Keep comparing

Crane operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do crane operators make in Pennsylvania?

The median crane operator in Pennsylvania earned $31.34 an hour ($65,190 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $25.85–$36.09; the top 10% earn more than $51.14.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for crane operator pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $31.34 an hour, and 37th after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union crane operator rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for crane operators in 32 counties, with a typical package of $78.72 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many crane operators work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 1,630 crane operators in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.97; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is crane operator work growing in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +2.5% growth for crane operators between 2024 and 2034, from 1,950 to 2,000 jobs.

How many crane operator openings a year are there in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania projects about 170 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.