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Occupational Employment Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

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 this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
45,480 3.2 % $29.10 $60,530 1.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.51 $20.04 $27.26 $35.12 $44.15
Annual Wage (2) $32,250 $41,680 $56,690 $73,060 $91,840

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

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

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 11,310 1.59 $34.24 $71,230
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) 3,900 0.27 $22.15 $46,080
Support Activities for Water Transportation 2,960 3.10 $29.93 $62,260
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 2,860 3.34 $23.87 $49,650
Nonresidential Building Construction 1,970 0.24 $35.42 $73,680

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 2,860 3.34 $23.87 $49,650
Support Activities for Water Transportation 2,960 3.10 $29.93 $62,260
Support Activities for Rail Transportation 730 2.02 $29.13 $60,580
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 930 1.61 $21.51 $44,750
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 11,310 1.59 $34.24 $71,230

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 100 0.03 $37.89 $78,820
Nonresidential Building Construction 1,970 0.24 $35.42 $73,680
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction 1,430 0.41 $35.28 $73,380
Residential Building Construction 90 0.01 $34.51 $71,780
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 11,310 1.59 $34.24 $71,230

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

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





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 6,420 0.52 1.67 $27.15 $56,470
California 3,530 0.20 0.66 $34.01 $70,740
Florida 2,810 0.32 1.03 $27.45 $57,090
Pennsylvania 2,700 0.46 1.48 $25.03 $52,070
Louisiana 2,600 1.35 4.36 $27.86 $57,950




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Louisiana 2,600 1.35 4.36 $27.86 $57,950
North Dakota 290 0.68 2.18 $32.12 $66,810
Maine 370 0.61 1.97 $24.74 $51,460
Arkansas 730 0.60 1.95 $20.96 $43,600
Indiana 1,760 0.57 1.85 $31.70 $65,950




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Jersey 800 0.20 0.63 $38.84 $80,780
Washington 1,380 0.42 1.35 $36.24 $75,380
Massachusetts 430 0.12 0.38 $35.37 $73,570
California 3,530 0.20 0.66 $34.01 $70,740
Alaska 120 0.37 1.20 $33.92 $70,550





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,280 0.75 2.41 $26.27 $54,650
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,560 0.25 0.81 $35.83 $74,530
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,430 0.31 0.99 $29.57 $61,500
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,420 0.15 0.47 (8) (8)
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,080 0.29 0.95 $27.51 $57,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 950 0.47 1.51 $38.06 $79,170
Pittsburgh, PA 820 0.71 2.30 $19.51 $40,570
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 810 0.41 1.33 $21.26 $44,210
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 800 1.05 3.41 $30.44 $63,320
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 770 1.37 4.44 $25.64 $53,330




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 380 4.46 14.40 $34.64 $72,040
Corpus Christi, TX 410 2.18 7.02 $33.08 $68,800
Mobile, AL 340 1.91 6.17 $24.83 $51,640
Decatur, AL 90 1.59 5.14 $19.67 $40,910
Baton Rouge, LA 620 1.57 5.06 $25.84 $53,740
Kankakee, IL 70 1.53 4.95 (8) (8)
Pueblo, CO 90 1.48 4.78 $22.47 $46,740
Owensboro, KY 80 1.48 4.78 $27.50 $57,200
Monroe, MI 60 1.45 4.67 $20.98 $43,640
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 220 1.38 4.45 $29.85 $62,080