Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,780 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Bakersfield earn between $61,410 and $79,410.
- $61K10th
- $61K25th
- $71KMedian
- $79K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,190 | $6,349 | $36.63 |
| Median | $70,840 | $5,903 | $34.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,410 | $5,118 | $29.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,410 | $6,618 | $38.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Bakersfield earn 12% less than the California average ($87,030) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $76,190 | $70,840 | $61,340 | $115,780 | 160 |
| California | $87,030 | $79,570 | $50,550 | $135,820 | 2,130 |
| United States | $72,130 | $68,080 | $42,640 | $103,570 | 42,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Crane and Tower Operators salary after taxes in Bakersfield
On the average salary of $76,190, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $59,407 a year, or $4,951 a month and $2,285 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $76,190 buys what about $75,521 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 7th of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($104,910).
- San Francisco$104,910
- Los Angeles$94,960
- Fresno$91,850
- Vallejo$84,000
- Stockton$83,410
- San Diego$82,580
- Bakersfield$76,190
- Oxnard$75,900
- Riverside$73,680
- Sacramento$69,400
Highest-paying cities for crane and tower operators
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,530).
- Honolulu, HI$118,530
- New York, NY$116,710
- Las Vegas, NV$115,300
- Kennewick, WA$111,710
- Buffalo, NY$109,610
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Crane and Tower Operators salary in Bakersfield: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Bakersfield?
$36.63 an hour on average, and $34.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $59,407 a year ($4,951 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,190. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,130).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-7021; area Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.75, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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