How Much Does a Crane Operator Make? (2024)
Heavy Equipment · SOC Code 53-7021 · 3-year apprenticeship
The average crane operator earns $75,123 per year ($36/hour) as of 2024, according to BLS data. Yearly income ranges from $45,360 to $132,560 depending on city, with entry-level workers earning about $56,160 and top earners making $132,580+.
Yes — top-decile crane operators clear $100K in 16 of 30 metros
The 90th-percentile crane operator in Las Vegas, NV earns $132,580 per year ($64/hour). Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression plus union membership, specialization, or running a small contracting business. Median crane operator pay nationally is $75,123 — the $100K mark is the high-earner ceiling, not the middle.
National Salary Range
Crane Operator salaries range from $45,360 to $132,560 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Crane Operator Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $132,560 | $56,160 – $132,580 | $127,462 | C | 0 |
| Portland, OR | $110,280 | $65,970 – $114,210 | $84,831 | C | 320 |
| Seattle, WA | $106,010 | $65,450 – $128,620 | $71,148 | C | 470 |
| New York, NY | $94,370 | $64,330 – $213,660 | $50,465 | D | 1,460 |
| Columbus, OH | $90,090 | $42,780 – $102,450 | $96,871 | C | 160 |
| Detroit, MI | $84,470 | $44,930 – $97,570 | $94,910 | C | 620 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $80,440 | $44,570 – $92,650 | $88,396 | C | 300 |
| Miami, FL | $79,440 | $43,730 – $101,840 | $65,115 | C | 720 |
| Raleigh, NC | $79,280 | $53,180 – $104,000 | $79,280 | C | 180 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $78,360 | $63,320 – $95,420 | $75,346 | C | 280 |
| Boston, MA | $75,980 | $58,760 – $148,170 | $49,987 | D | 330 |
| Denver, CO | $75,830 | $72,160 – $85,920 | $59,242 | C | 340 |
| Tampa, FL | $75,760 | $42,450 – $109,200 | $75,010 | C | 330 |
| Houston, TX | $75,450 | $38,890 – $97,150 | $78,594 | C | 2,390 |
| Dallas, TX | $74,570 | $43,000 – $92,140 | $73,108 | C | 1,380 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $72,630 | $47,770 – $122,000 | $63,157 | C | 570 |
| Kansas City, MO | $72,260 | $39,750 – $96,010 | $76,872 | C | 170 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $71,890 | $49,430 – $97,750 | $67,821 | C | 70 |
| San Francisco, CA | $69,970 | $49,640 – $153,660 | $36,826 | D | 230 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $67,960 | $46,640 – $88,830 | $65,981 | C | 760 |
| Atlanta, GA | $67,230 | $45,890 – $79,320 | $63,425 | C | 930 |
| San Antonio, TX | $66,170 | $37,970 – $93,440 | $73,522 | C | 300 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $65,960 | $45,310 – $105,060 | $68,708 | C | 230 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,780 | $43,880 – $135,010 | $37,217 | D | 760 |
| Charlotte, NC | $59,220 | $40,290 – $82,280 | $60,429 | C | 340 |
| Chicago, IL | $57,740 | $43,010 – $137,150 | $53,963 | C | 1,210 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $56,830 | $38,000 – $105,260 | $61,772 | C | 440 |
| New Orleans, LA | $56,440 | $46,020 – $86,670 | $59,411 | C | 380 |
| Nashville, TN | $49,350 | $43,560 – $94,650 | $47,913 | D | 140 |
| St. Louis, MO | $45,360 | $39,870 – $127,960 | $50,400 | D | 340 |
About Crane Operator Pay
Crane Operators earn a national median salary of $75,123 based on 2024 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is Las Vegas at $132,560 median, while St. Louis offers the lowest at $45,360.
Becoming a crane operator typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $56,160, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $132,580 or more. With 4% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Thinking about becoming a crane operator?
Step-by-step path: 3-year apprenticeship, certifications, state licensing, and apprentice-to-master pay timeline.
Related Heavy Equipment Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest-paying crane operator jobs are in Las Vegas, NV, where the 90th percentile reaches $132,580 and the median is $132,560. The pay-driving specialties tend to be crane operation and similar high-skill roles — workers who layer certifications and union membership on top of journeyman experience typically reach the 90th percentile within 10-15 years of entering the trade.
Typical certifications and licenses include: NCCCO Crane Operator Certification (required); OSHA 10/30-Hour; CDL Class A or B; Rigging certification. Specifics vary by state — most crane operators also need OSHA safety training and a state-issued license before doing solo work.
For most workers, yes. Crane Operators earn a national median of $75,123 (Trade Pay Score grade C), wages have grown 4% over the past 5 years, and the BLS counts roughly 16,150 crane operator jobs nationwide. The work is physically demanding and the apprenticeship is real, but the trade clears the bar for living-wage, debt-free career entry.
Crane Operator pay varies by metro. The lowest-paying tracked city for crane operators pays $45,360 median, while the highest-paying pays $132,560 — see the city table above for any specific metro.
The average crane operator salary is $75,123 per year ($36/hour) based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Average yearly income ranges from $45,360 to $132,560 depending on city, experience, and union status.
Crane Operators earn an average hourly wage of $36/hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. Entry-level (10th percentile) hourly pay is about $27/hour, while top earners (90th percentile) make $64/hour or more.
Las Vegas offers the highest median pay for crane operators at $132,560. However, cost of living matters, the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of C and 4% wage growth over 5 years, crane operator offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 16,150 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a crane operator typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $56,160 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.
this entity is one of the data points covered by this site’s U.S. skilled-trade wage data dataset. The detail above comes directly from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey; the context that follows situates the headline numbers against the broader distribution across U.S. trades, cities, and states.
Every number on this page links back to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey; the methodology page describes the inputs, refresh cadence, and known limitations of the underlying data product.
Practical use of this page is in combination with the comparison and ranking pages elsewhere on the site, which surface the same data for this entity’s peers within U.S. trades, cities, and states. A single-entity reading without peer context can be misleading when an entity is an outlier on one axis but typical on another.