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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.


National estimates for Crane and Tower Operators
Industry profile for Crane and Tower Operators
Geographic profile for Crane and Tower Operators

National estimates for Crane and Tower Operators:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Crane and Tower Operators:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
42,260 2.8 % $ 32.71 $ 68,040 1.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Crane and Tower Operators:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.85 $ 23.26 $ 31.10 $ 37.85 $ 47.51
Annual Wage (2) $ 39,200 $ 48,380 $ 64,690 $ 78,720 $ 98,820


Industry profile for Crane and Tower Operators:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Crane and Tower Operators are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Crane and Tower Operators, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Crane and Tower Operators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 10,310 1.33 $ 40.74 $ 84,740
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) 4,350 0.29 $ 22.03 $ 45,830
Support Activities for Water Transportation 2,540 2.67 $ 32.96 $ 68,550
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 1,950 2.33 $ 22.98 $ 47,800
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors 1,590 0.16 $ 38.85 $ 80,810

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Crane and Tower Operators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Support Activities for Water Transportation 2,540 2.67 $ 32.96 $ 68,550
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 1,950 2.33 $ 22.98 $ 47,800
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 10,310 1.33 $ 40.74 $ 84,740
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 670 1.14 $ 21.88 $ 45,520
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 890 0.71 $ 43.27 $ 90,000

Top paying industries for Crane and Tower Operators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 150 0.03 $ 46.41 $ 96,540
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 110 0.03 $ 43.84 $ 91,180
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 890 0.71 $ 43.27 $ 90,000
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 10,310 1.33 $ 40.74 $ 84,740
Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) 1,080 0.31 $ 39.56 $ 82,280


Geographic profile for Crane and Tower Operators:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Crane and Tower Operators are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Crane and Tower Operators, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of crane and tower operators by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Crane and Tower Operators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 7,610 0.56 2.02 $ 32.40 $ 67,380
California 2,720 0.15 0.55 $ 32.14 $ 66,850
Florida 2,270 0.24 0.85 $ 30.73 $ 63,910
Indiana 1,840 0.58 2.10 $ 30.06 $ 62,520
Louisiana 1,740 0.94 3.37 $ 29.56 $ 61,480


Map of location quotient of crane and tower operators by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Crane and Tower Operators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Louisiana 1,740 0.94 3.37 $ 29.56 $ 61,480
North Dakota 300 0.71 2.54 $ 36.89 $ 76,720
Arkansas 820 0.65 2.32 $ 23.37 $ 48,610
Indiana 1,840 0.58 2.10 $ 30.06 $ 62,520
West Virginia 400 0.57 2.06 $ 28.47 $ 59,210


Map of annual mean wages of crane and tower operators by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Crane and Tower Operators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York 1,380 0.15 0.53 $ 56.82 $ 118,190
Hawaii 260 0.43 1.54 $ 53.34 $ 110,940
Nevada 180 0.12 0.44 $ 52.35 $ 108,890
Massachusetts 620 0.17 0.61 $ 46.52 $ 96,750
Oregon 520 0.27 0.96 $ 46.37 $ 96,440



Map of employment of crane and tower operators by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Crane and Tower Operators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,750 0.86 3.10 $ 34.50 $ 71,750
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,520 0.38 1.38 $ 31.19 $ 64,870
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,480 0.16 0.56 $ 55.62 $ 115,690
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,220 0.20 0.71 $ 29.69 $ 61,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,170 0.26 0.93 $ 34.16 $ 71,050
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 660 0.24 0.88 $ 32.67 $ 67,950
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 650 0.34 1.23 $ 33.17 $ 68,980
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 610 0.27 0.96 $ 31.16 $ 64,810
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 590 0.28 1.02 $ 44.29 $ 92,130
Longview, TX 580 5.93 21.31 $ 31.66 $ 65,850


Map of location quotient of crane and tower operators by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Crane and Tower Operators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Longview, TX 580 5.93 21.31 $ 31.66 $ 65,850
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 280 3.52 12.65 $ 28.79 $ 59,880
Midland, TX 280 2.48 8.91 $ 37.85 $ 78,730
Decatur, AL 90 1.64 5.89 $ 21.26 $ 44,220
Mobile, AL 240 1.40 5.03 $ 28.24 $ 58,740
Baton Rouge, LA 510 1.31 4.69 $ 32.86 $ 68,350
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS 200 1.30 4.68 $ 34.38 $ 71,500
Odessa, TX 100 1.29 4.64 $ 29.99 $ 62,390
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 200 1.27 4.58 $ 30.43 $ 63,280
Monroe, MI 50 1.20 4.32 $ 23.09 $ 48,020


Map of annual mean wages of crane and tower operators by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Crane and Tower Operators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,480 0.16 0.56 $ 55.62 $ 115,690
Urban Honolulu, HI 240 0.54 1.94 $ 53.07 $ 110,380
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 60 0.11 0.38 $ 50.54 $ 105,120
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 60 0.15 0.53 $ 49.03 $ 101,990
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 420 0.15 0.55 $ 48.24 $ 100,340
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 370 0.31 1.11 $ 45.79 $ 95,240
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 590 0.28 1.02 $ 44.29 $ 92,130
Worcester, MA-CT 60 0.23 0.81 $ 44.08 $ 91,690
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 60 0.15 0.52 $ 43.16 $ 89,760
Kennewick-Richland, WA 50 0.40 1.44 $ 43.07 $ 89,580

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Crane and Tower Operators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 280 4.20 15.09 $ 20.34 $ 42,300
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 190 0.68 2.45 $ 28.60 $ 59,490
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 170 0.94 3.38 $ 21.94 $ 45,640
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 170 0.88 3.15 $ 32.28 $ 67,140
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 170 1.23 4.41 $ 29.28 $ 60,910

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Crane and Tower Operators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 280 4.20 15.09 $ 20.34 $ 42,300
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 170 1.45 5.20 $ 38.20 $ 79,460
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 170 1.23 4.41 $ 29.28 $ 60,910
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 70 1.09 3.92 $ 22.78 $ 47,390
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area 70 1.08 3.87 $ 24.20 $ 50,330

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Crane and Tower Operators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 40 0.41 1.46 $ 43.31 $ 90,080
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 30 0.29 1.05 $ 38.30 $ 79,670
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 170 1.45 5.20 $ 38.20 $ 79,460
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 30 0.37 1.34 $ 35.15 $ 73,120
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 50 0.46 1.64 $ 35.08 $ 72,970


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024