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.
What it pays
Crane and Tower Operators earn a median of $32.73/hr — about $68,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.50/hr; the top 10% earn $49.79/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Crane and Tower Operators earn a median of $32.73/hr — about $68,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.50/hr; the top 10% earn $49.79/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0% of crane and tower operators are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a crane and tower operator make?
- The median pay is $32.73 per hour — roughly $68,000 a year, with the real range running from about $20.50/hr (10th percentile) to $49.79/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a crane and tower operator?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a crane and tower operator actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.