The salary statistics of crane and tower operators in the industry sector of construction are shown in Table 1. In Table 2 we compare crane and tower operator salaries in different industries within the construction sector.
| Percentile Bracket | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile Wage | $38,260 |
| 25th Percentile Wage | $49,320 |
| 50th Percentile Wage | $63,650 |
| 75th Percentile Wage | $78,980 |
| 90th Percentile Wage | $100,890 |
Table 1 shows the average annual salary for crane and tower operators in the industry sector of construction. The salaries are shown in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) crane and tower operators is $100,890. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $63,650. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent paid crane and tower operators is $38,260.
The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of crane and tower operators in the industry sector of construction from 2012 to 2018.
| Year | Median Salary | Yearly Growth | 6-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $63,650 | 5.03% | 16.17% |
| 2017 | $60,450 | 1.99% | - |
| 2016 | $59,250 | 3.54% | - |
| 2015 | $57,150 | 1.45% | - |
| 2014 | $56,320 | 2.73% | - |
| 2013 | $54,780 | 2.59% | - |
| 2012 | $53,360 | - | - |
The average salaries of crane and tower operators in three industries in the construction sector are shown below. We note that within this industry sector, the salaries vary among different industries. The highest paying industry for crane and tower operator occupations is the masonry contractors industry with an annual salary $47,010. The lowest paying industry is the painting and wall covering contractors industry (annual salary $30,140). For detailed crane and tower operator salary information in a particular industry, use the links provided below.
| Industry Name | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Masonry Contractors | |
| Building Finishing Contractors | |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | |
Data source: The national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2018 and published in April 2019 [1].