Skilled Wages

Crane operator salary in Texas

Median $35.23 an hour for 6,010 crane operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$35.23/hrMedian hourly wageTexas, May data
$73,280/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.57 – $44.9010th to 90th percentilehourly range
6,010Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Crane operator pay in Texas: the full range

Wage percentiles, TexasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTexas: 10th $20.57 · 25th $27.41 · median $35.23 · 75th $38.40 · 90th $44.90Texas$35.23$20.57$44.90United 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: Texas vs United States, May 2025.

Texas ranks 19th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.28). 6,010 crane operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.57 – $27.41$42,790 – $57,020roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$27.41 – $38.40$57,020 – $79,880the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$38.40 – $44.90$79,880 – $93,390the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Crane operator pay by metro in Texas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMidland: $38.09Midland$38.09Killeen: $36.54Killeen$36.54Houston: $36.30Houston$36.30Austin: $36.23Austin$36.23Odessa: $36.21Odessa$36.21Corpus Christi: $35.68Corpus Christi$35.68Beaumont: $35.12Beaumont$35.12Dallas-Fort Worth: $33.00Dallas-Fort Worth$33.00San Antonio: $32.79San Antonio$32.79El Paso: $29.94El Paso$29.94Waco: $29.50Waco$29.50Longview: $29.24Longview$29.24
Median hourly wage for crane operators by metro area in Texas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Midland$30.42$38.09$39.76$44.101508% above
Killeen$17.78$36.54$40.11$45.02404% above
Houston$18.59$36.30$36.82$47.622,1003% above
Austin$22.96$36.23$36.93$47.862303% above
Odessa$26.46$36.21$38.56$42.77903% above
Corpus Christi$24.87$35.68$38.49$36.913301% above
Beaumont$21.85$35.12$39.02$42.51240about the same as
Dallas-Fort Worth$22.26$33.00$32.01$44.201,3106% below
San Antonio$21.25$32.79$34.63$44.812707% below
El Paso$19.61$29.94$33.30$41.7312015% below
Waco$16.44$29.50$31.89$45.215016% below
Longview$18.47$29.24$32.67$36.78—17% below
College Station$21.95$29.09$31.97$41.084017% below
McAllen$14.66$27.07$31.51$36.425023% below
Tyler$20.79$26.89$29.16$36.803024% below
Brownsville$15.00$25.99$30.22$36.503026% below
San Angelo$18.38$22.09$23.88$33.014037% below

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

Crane operator wages in Texas over time

Texas, 1999-2025TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$35.23Texas$32.73United States
Median hourly wage for crane operators, Texas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTexas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.26$27.56$15.293,930
2000$14.01$26.19$15.894,680
2001$14.04$25.52$16.644,610
2002$14.80$26.49$17.474,220
2003$15.39$26.93$17.864,350
2004$16.24$27.68$17.994,160
2005$16.21$26.72$18.694,370
2006$15.47$24.70$18.775,090
2007$16.39$25.45$19.364,370
2008$18.39$27.50$20.134,240
2009$22.72$34.09$21.224,170
2010$22.53$33.26$22.234,690
2011$21.11$30.21$22.345,100
2012$21.51$30.16$22.735,340
2013$23.07$31.88$23.385,130
2014$25.26$34.35$24.396,340
2015$25.30$34.37$24.83—
2016$25.34$33.99$25.088,110
2017$25.32$33.26$25.106,880
2018$26.11$33.48$26.035,850
2019$27.53$34.67$27.266,420
2020$29.65$36.88$28.717,650
2021$30.04$35.69$29.927,110
2022$30.80$33.88$29.497,230
2023$33.84$35.75$31.107,610
2024$35.03$35.95$31.916,650
2025$35.23$35.23$32.736,010

In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Texas changed by +2.5% over the last ten years of data and by +1.6% since 2019.

Are there more crane operator jobs in Texas?

-6.4%Jobs since 20196,420 then, 6,010 in 2025
0.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.6× the US share, 11th of 47 states

Since 1999, the number of crane operators counted in Texas has changed by +52.9%, against -20.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -6.4%.

Crane and tower operators in Texas vs United States, 1999 = 100TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5010015020025020002005201020202025153Texas80United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Texas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTexas jobsTexas indexUS index
19993,930100100
20004,680119104
20014,61011796
20024,22010791
20034,35011188
20044,16010681
20054,37011181
20065,09013085
20074,37011185
20084,24010883
20094,17010676
20104,69011973
20115,10013076
20125,34013680
20135,13013077
20146,34016183
20168,11020684
20176,88017581
20185,85014982
20196,42016384
20207,65019582
20217,11018181
20227,23018484
20237,61019478
20246,65016978
20256,01015380

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for crane operators in Texas

+8.2%Projected growth in Texas2024–2034, state agency
640Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,560Jobs in 20247,100 projected for 2034
+3.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Texas's labor market agency projects the number of crane operators in the state to change by +8.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,560 to 7,100, with about 640 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 6,010 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators in Texas

On federally funded construction in Texas, contractors must pay crane operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 77 of the 254 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.95 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $21.33). 177 of the 254 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Anderson County at $21.33). The market median for the state is $35.23.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TXUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$45.95survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIrion (San Angelo): market median $22.09, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$23.86Irion (San Angelo)+$23.86Cameron (Brownsville): market median $25.99, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$19.96Cameron (Brownsville)+$19.96Smith (Tyler): market median $26.89, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$19.06Smith (Tyler)+$19.06Hidalgo (McAllen): market median $27.07, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$18.88Hidalgo (McAllen)+$18.88Atascosa (San Antonio): market median $32.79, prevailing (union) $49.86, gap +$17.07Atascosa (San Antonio)+$17.07Brazos (College Station): market median $29.09, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$16.86Brazos (College Station)+$16.86Gregg (Longview): market median $29.24, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$16.71Gregg (Longview)+$16.71McLennan (Waco): market median $29.50, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$16.45McLennan (Waco)+$16.45El Paso (El Paso): market median $29.94, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$16.01El Paso (El Paso)+$16.01Hardin (Beaumont): market median $35.12, prevailing (union) $49.86, gap +$14.74Hardin (Beaumont)+$14.74Bastrop (Austin): market median $36.23, prevailing (union) $49.86, gap +$13.63Bastrop (Austin)+$13.63Austin (Houston): market median $36.30, prevailing (union) $49.86, gap +$13.56Austin (Houston)+$13.56Collin (Dallas-Fort Worth): market median $33.00, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$12.95Collin (Dallas-Fort Worth)+$12.95Archer (Texas): market median $35.23, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$10.72Archer (Texas)+$10.72Aransas (Corpus Christi): market median $35.68, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$10.27Aransas (Corpus Christi)+$10.27Ector (Odessa): market median $36.21, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$9.74Ector (Odessa)+$9.74Bell (Killeen): market median $36.54, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$9.41Bell (Killeen)+$9.41Midland (Midland): market median $38.09, prevailing (union) $45.95, gap +$7.86Midland (Midland)+$7.86
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for crane operators, metro counties in Texas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AtascosaUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260290
AustinUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260229
BanderaUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260284
BastropUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260285
BexarUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260231
BrazoriaUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260233
CaldwellUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260286
ChambersUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260238
ComalUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260240
Fort BendUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260247
GalvestonUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260248
GuadalupeUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260251
HardinUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260252
HarrisUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260253
HaysUnion ENGI0450-002 2024-04-01$39.47$10.39$49.86TX20260254

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Texas prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Texas?

924.5kConstruction jobsTexas, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k19901995200020052010201520202025924kSep 2026
Construction employment in Texas (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 173 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 374,938 in 2015 to 475,675 in 2025, +26.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Ward County22492$114,200$2,196
Armstrong County7186$112,884$2,171
Marion County882$112,162$2,157
Bosque County24326$104,299$2,006
Jones County20176$102,591$1,973
Andrews County21562$97,060$1,867
Fayette County58635$95,031$1,828
Midland County3084,427$94,134$1,810
Yoakum County15206$93,961$1,807
Jefferson County2586,951$92,846$1,785
Chambers County27181$92,338$1,776
Brazoria County3634,932$90,928$1,749

Keep comparing

Crane operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Texas

More on Texas

Questions this page answers

How much do crane operators make in Texas?

The median crane operator in Texas earned $35.23 an hour ($73,280 a year) in May 2025, 8% above the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $27.41–$38.40; the top 10% earn more than $44.90.

Where does Texas rank for crane operator pay?

Texas ranks 19th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $35.23 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).

What is the union crane operator rate in Texas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for crane operators in 77 counties, with a typical package of $45.95 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many crane operators work in Texas?

BLS counted 6,010 crane operators in Texas in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.55; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is crane operator work growing in Texas?

Texas's labor market agency projects +8.2% growth for crane operators between 2024 and 2034, from 6,560 to 7,100 jobs.

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

Texas projects about 640 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, Texas 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.