Crane operator salary in Wyoming
Median $37.49 an hour for 230 crane operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Crane operator pay in Wyoming: the full range
Wyoming ranks 16th of 50 states for median crane operator pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $40.44). 230 crane operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $30.60 – $33.94 | $63,650 – $70,590 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $33.94 – $44.17 | $70,590 – $91,880 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $44.17 – $45.47 | $91,880 – $94,580 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Crane operator pay by metro in Wyoming
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $30.70 | $37.42 | $45.04 | 40 | about the same as |
Crane operator wages in Wyoming over time
Table
| Year | Wyoming $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $16.26 | $31.42 | $15.29 | 60 |
| 2000 | $16.31 | $30.49 | $15.89 | 90 |
| 2001 | $20.65 | $37.54 | $16.64 | 80 |
| 2002 | $19.84 | $35.50 | $17.47 | 70 |
| 2003 | $19.25 | $33.68 | $17.86 | 60 |
| 2004 | $23.35 | $39.80 | $17.99 | 50 |
| 2005 | $18.90 | $31.16 | $18.69 | 80 |
| 2006 | $19.05 | $30.42 | $18.77 | 100 |
| 2007 | $19.81 | $30.76 | $19.36 | 100 |
| 2008 | $22.25 | $33.27 | $20.13 | 100 |
| 2009 | $27.43 | $41.16 | $21.22 | 140 |
| 2010 | $26.48 | $39.10 | $22.23 | 150 |
| 2011 | $26.93 | $38.54 | $22.34 | 130 |
| 2012 | $29.09 | $40.79 | $22.73 | 120 |
| 2013 | $32.77 | $45.29 | $23.38 | 100 |
| 2014 | $31.65 | $43.04 | $24.39 | 100 |
| 2015 | $28.42 | $38.60 | $24.83 | 90 |
| 2016 | $27.63 | $37.06 | $25.08 | 70 |
| 2017 | $28.06 | $36.85 | $25.10 | 70 |
| 2018 | $28.48 | $36.51 | $26.03 | 100 |
| 2019 | $29.79 | $37.51 | $27.26 | 80 |
| 2020 | $31.14 | $38.74 | $28.71 | 60 |
| 2021 | $36.83 | $43.76 | $29.92 | 80 |
| 2022 | $35.16 | $38.68 | $29.49 | 130 |
| 2023 | $31.64 | $33.43 | $31.10 | 110 |
| 2024 | $36.59 | $37.55 | $31.91 | 120 |
| 2025 | $37.49 | $37.49 | $32.73 | 230 |
In today's dollars, the median crane operator wage in Wyoming changed by -2.9% over the last ten years of data and by -0.1% since 2019.
Are there more crane operator jobs in Wyoming?
BLS counted 230 crane operators in Wyoming in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 35%. 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 Wyoming
Wyoming's labor market agency projects the number of crane operators in the state to change by +14.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 120 to 140, with about 10 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 230 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Wyoming labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for crane operators in Wyoming
On federally funded construction in Wyoming, contractors must pay crane operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 23 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $66.00). The market median for the state is $37.49.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Big Horn | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Campbell | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Carbon | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Converse | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Crook | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Fremont | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Goshen | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Hot Springs | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Johnson | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Laramie | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Lincoln | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Natrona | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Niobrara | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Park | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Platte | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Sheridan | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Sublette | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Sweetwater | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Teton | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Uinta | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Washakie | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
| Weston | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $50.00 | $16.00 | $66.00 | WY20260041 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Wyoming prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Wyoming?
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 21 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 12,066 in 2015 to 12,742 in 2025, +5.6%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | 37 | 221 | $90,675 | $1,744 |
| Campbell County | 129 | 1,297 | $79,784 | $1,534 |
| Uinta County | 46 | 219 | $77,969 | $1,499 |
| Weston County | 11 | 113 | $75,901 | $1,460 |
| Natrona County | 246 | 1,913 | $73,879 | $1,421 |
| Teton County | 222 | 1,531 | $72,070 | $1,386 |
| Sweetwater County | 92 | 800 | $71,916 | $1,383 |
| Laramie County | 339 | 2,520 | $70,715 | $1,360 |
| Sheridan County | 138 | 827 | $68,886 | $1,325 |
| Converse County | 43 | 198 | $67,083 | $1,290 |
| Platte County | 24 | 71 | $60,773 | $1,169 |
| Lincoln County | 152 | 559 | $59,215 | $1,139 |
| Albany County | 107 | 602 | $58,753 | $1,130 |
| Sublette County | 54 | 219 | $57,793 | $1,111 |
| Crook County | 30 | 119 | $56,875 | $1,094 |
| Washakie County | 23 | 132 | $56,052 | $1,078 |
| Park County | 135 | 591 | $53,754 | $1,034 |
| Fremont County | 125 | 482 | $52,045 | $1,001 |
| Big Horn County | 35 | 107 | $48,125 | $925 |
| Goshen County | 30 | 89 | $47,083 | $905 |
| Johnson County | 40 | 132 | $46,461 | $893 |
| Hot Springs County | — | — | — | — |
| Niobrara County | — | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Crane operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wyoming
More on Wyoming
Questions this page answers
How much do crane operators make in Wyoming?
The median crane operator in Wyoming earned $37.49 an hour ($77,970 a year) in May 2025, 15% above the national median of $32.73. The middle half earn $33.94–$44.17; the top 10% earn more than $45.47.
Where does Wyoming rank for crane operator pay?
Wyoming ranks 16th of 50 states for crane operator pay, with a median of $37.49 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Wyoming's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.7, US = 100).
What is the union crane operator rate in Wyoming?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a crane operator classification for most Wyoming counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many crane operators work in Wyoming?
BLS counted 230 crane operators in Wyoming in May 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 3.01; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is crane operator work growing in Wyoming?
Wyoming's labor market agency projects +14.4% growth for crane operators between 2024 and 2034, from 120 to 140 jobs.
How many crane operator openings a year are there in Wyoming?
Wyoming projects about 10 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, Wyoming 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: Wyoming labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.