Crane operator salary in Utah
Median $32.41 an hour for 440 crane and tower operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Crane operator pay in Utah: the full range
Utah ranks 25th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.77). 440 crane and tower operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.25 – $24.20 | $35,880 – $50,340 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.20 – $38.45 | $50,340 – $79,970 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $38.45 – $46.70 | $79,970 – $97,140 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in Utah
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $29.53 | $38.45 | $59.14 | 250 | 19% above |
| Ogden | $29.49 | $34.59 | $37.23 | 40 | 7% above |
| Provo | $20.75 | $23.52 | $30.07 | 40 | 27% below |
Crane operator wages in Utah over time
Table
| Year | Utah $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.58 | $33.97 | $15.29 | 260 |
| 2000 | $16.95 | $31.69 | $15.89 | 320 |
| 2001 | $18.11 | $32.92 | $16.64 | 250 |
| 2002 | $18.34 | $32.82 | $17.47 | 260 |
| 2003 | $19.53 | $34.17 | $17.86 | 200 |
| 2004 | $16.11 | $27.46 | $17.99 | 210 |
| 2005 | $22.31 | $36.78 | $18.69 | 380 |
| 2006 | $22.52 | $35.96 | $18.77 | 320 |
| 2007 | $23.07 | $35.82 | $19.36 | 410 |
| 2008 | $21.71 | $32.46 | $20.13 | 390 |
| 2009 | $23.70 | $35.57 | $21.22 | 460 |
| 2010 | $25.03 | $36.95 | $22.23 | 340 |
| 2011 | $25.30 | $36.21 | $22.34 | 300 |
| 2012 | $20.83 | $29.21 | $22.73 | 200 |
| 2013 | $24.33 | $33.62 | $23.38 | 290 |
| 2014 | $25.19 | $34.26 | $24.39 | 460 |
| 2015 | $24.74 | $33.60 | $24.83 | 440 |
| 2016 | $22.63 | $30.36 | $25.08 | 390 |
| 2017 | $24.17 | $31.75 | $25.10 | 370 |
| 2018 | $24.60 | $31.54 | $26.03 | 290 |
| 2019 | $25.62 | $32.26 | $27.26 | 250 |
| 2020 | $27.38 | $34.06 | $28.71 | 230 |
| 2021 | $29.03 | $34.49 | $29.92 | 420 |
| 2022 | $29.52 | $32.47 | $29.49 | 390 |
| 2023 | $31.81 | $33.61 | $31.10 | 730 |
| 2024 | $33.18 | $34.05 | $31.91 | 510 |
| 2025 | $32.41 | $32.41 | $32.73 | 440 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Utah changed by -3.6% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Utah?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Elder County | 1,523 | $76,498 | $1,471 |
| Utah County | 22,517 | $75,667 | $1,455 |
| Salt Lake County | 38,556 | $74,339 | $1,430 |
| Uintah County | 1,261 | $70,283 | $1,352 |
| Carbon County | 276 | $69,011 | $1,327 |
| Summit County | 1,507 | $67,319 | $1,295 |
| Davis County | 8,259 | $66,282 | $1,275 |
| Duchesne County | 392 | $65,283 | $1,255 |
| Weber County | 6,055 | $63,127 | $1,214 |
| Emery County | 165 | $63,062 | $1,213 |
| Millard County | 152 | $61,610 | $1,185 |
| Morgan County | 599 | $58,888 | $1,132 |
| Wasatch County | 1,024 | $58,288 | $1,121 |
| Juab County | 356 | $55,639 | $1,070 |
| Tooele County | 953 | $55,622 | $1,070 |
| Washington County | 8,008 | $54,600 | $1,050 |
| Grand County | 168 | $54,312 | $1,044 |
| Garfield County | 36 | $54,043 | $1,039 |
| Cache County | 2,691 | $52,109 | $1,002 |
| Iron County | 1,830 | $50,935 | $980 |
| Sanpete County | 445 | $49,876 | $959 |
| Beaver County | 108 | $48,476 | $932 |
| San Juan County | 148 | $45,683 | $879 |
| Sevier County | 318 | $40,761 | $784 |
| Kane County | 89 | $38,420 | $739 |
| Daggett County | — | — | — |
| Piute County | — | — | — |
| Rich County | — | — | — |
| Wayne County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Utah
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in Utah?
The median crane operator in Utah earned $32.41 an hour ($67,410 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $24.20–$38.45; the top 10% earn more than $46.70.
Where does Utah rank for crane operator pay?
Utah ranks 25th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $32.41 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for Utah's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.9, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in Utah?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a crane operator classification for most Utah counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many crane operators work in Utah?
BLS counted 440 crane and tower operators in Utah in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.91; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Utah 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.