Crane and Tower Operators: Job Description
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
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The Daily Work of Crane and Tower Operators Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of crane and tower operators cover:
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
- Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective crane and tower operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Crane and Tower Operators Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Acid Crane Operator
- Boom Cat Operator
- Boom Crane Operator
- Boomswing Operator
- Bottom Crane Operator
- Bridge Crane Operator
- Burial Vault Deliverer and Installer
- Cantilever Crane Operator
Employment and Demand
There are about 136,126 crane and tower operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Crane and Tower Operators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $26,023 |
| Hourly median | $12.51 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $30,234 |
| 90th percentile | $34,446 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Crane and Tower Operators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $129,930 |
| Hawaii | $115,870 |
| Oregon | $110,280 |
| New York | $110,000 |
| District of Columbia | $106,150 |
| Washington | $96,870 |
| Montana | $91,520 |
| New Jersey | $88,470 |
| Connecticut | $86,830 |
| Alaska | $80,900 |
| Michigan | $77,110 |
| Massachusetts | $76,640 |
| Wyoming | $76,110 |
| North Dakota | $74,880 |
| Colorado | $74,140 |
| Vermont | $73,840 |
| Idaho | $73,480 |
| Texas | $72,870 |
| Oklahoma | $71,500 |
| South Dakota | $70,400 |
| Florida | $70,130 |
| California | $69,970 |
| Utah | $69,020 |
| Wisconsin | $68,310 |
| Arizona | $67,960 |
| Minnesota | $67,320 |
| Georgia | $67,230 |
| Maryland | $66,800 |
| Nebraska | $66,800 |
| Virginia | $65,400 |
| Kansas | $64,430 |
| New Hampshire | $63,410 |
| Delaware | $62,820 |
| Mississippi | $62,510 |
| Ohio | $62,460 |
| North Carolina | $62,060 |
| Maine | $61,320 |
| Louisiana | $61,130 |
| New Mexico | $60,950 |
| Guam | $59,680 |
| Indiana | $57,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,760 |
| Tennessee | $56,530 |
| Iowa | $55,620 |
| South Carolina | $55,410 |
| Kentucky | $55,100 |
| West Virginia | $54,650 |
| Illinois | $53,240 |
| Alabama | $47,620 |
| Missouri | $46,580 |
| Arkansas | $42,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,620 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for crane and tower operators vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $84,605 | 8.7% | 0.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $81,321 | 10.0% | 0.72 |
| Rocky Mountains | $73,525 | 3.2% | 0.95 |
| New England | $72,053 | 3.6% | 1.22 |
| Southwest | $71,978 | 20.2% | 1.64 |
| Great Lakes | $63,132 | 16.2% | 1.27 |
| Southeast | $60,995 | 32.2% | 1.61 |
| Plains States | $60,398 | 5.7% | 1.17 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | MA | $133,820 | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $132,560 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $118,720 | 60 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $115,860 | 200 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $113,700 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $110,280 | 320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $106,010 | 470 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $104,480 | 40 |
Which Industries Hire Crane and Tower Operators
Most crane and tower operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 17,600 | $78,090 |
| Manufacturing | 9,140 | $50,930 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 5,380 | $64,250 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4,270 | $46,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,520 | $53,010 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,180 | $83,670 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,120 | $77,110 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 270 | $71,500 |
Crane and Tower Operators work in the following industries:
Software Crane and Tower Operators Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for crane and tower operators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Entry-level crane and tower operators positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Supplemental)
- Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Supplemental)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Primary-Short)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (Primary-Long)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring crane and tower operators typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
2 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators).
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