Crane and Tower Operator Salary in Sector of Manufacturing

The salary statistics of crane and tower operators in the industry sector of manufacturing are shown in Table 1. In Table 2 we compare crane and tower operator salaries in different industries within the manufacturing sector.

Average Annual Salary of Crane and Tower Operators

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$29,000
25th Percentile Wage
$34,660
50th Percentile Wage
$44,690
75th Percentile Wage
$56,990
90th Percentile Wage
$71,560

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for crane and tower operators in the industry sector of manufacturing. 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 $71,560. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $44,690. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent paid crane and tower operators is $29,000.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2018)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of crane and tower operators in the industry sector of manufacturing from 2012 to 2018.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth6-Year Growth
2018
$44,690
0.67% 6.09%
2017
$44,390
-0.41% -
2016
$44,570
-0.74% -
2015
$44,900
1.92% -
2014
$44,040
1.98% -
2013
$43,170
2.78% -
2012
$41,970
- -

Compare Crane and Tower Operator Salary in Different Industries within the Manufacturing Sector

The average salaries of crane and tower operators in 20 industries in the manufacturing 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 aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry with an annual salary $67,530. The lowest paying industry is the clay product and refractory manufacturing industry (annual salary $29,510). For detailed crane and tower operator salary information in a particular industry, use the links provided below.

Industry Name Median Annual Salary
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
$67,530
Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing
$54,660
Other Food Manufacturing
$52,740
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
$47,650
Machine Shops
$47,650
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing
$47,500
Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing
$47,170
Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing
$47,050
Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
$45,930
Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing
$43,490
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing
$41,950
Forging and Stamping
$40,370
Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing
$39,110
Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
$38,170
Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing
$38,120
Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing
$38,100
Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing
$37,470
Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing
$37,170
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing
$37,100
Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing
$29,510

Data source: The national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2018 and published in April 2019 [1].