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.
Also called: Acid Crane Operator, Boom Cat Operator, Boom Crane Operator, Boomswing Operator, Bottom Crane Operator, Bridge Crane Operator
Median pay
$68,080
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$42,640 – $103,570
People employed
42,890
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 6.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 7.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 8.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Crane and Tower Operators pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What crane and tower operators do
- 01Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- 02Inspect crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
- 03Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- 04Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- 05Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- 06Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from crane and tower operators
- Pile Driver Operators85% · +8%
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines85% · −4%
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining85% · −16%
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators85% · −12%
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators84% · −9%
Change into crane and tower operators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining83% · $57,430
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators82% · $61,810
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines82% · $65,510
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators81% · $59,850
- Riggers81% · $62,640
Majors that lead here
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
- Mobil Crane Operator/Operation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.