Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,050 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Houston earn between $55,010 and $81,270.
- $39K10th
- $55K25th
- $76KMedian
- $81K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,810 | $5,901 | $34.04 |
| Median | $75,500 | $6,292 | $36.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,010 | $4,584 | $26.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,270 | $6,772 | $39.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Houston earn about the same as the Texas average ($69,650) and about the same as the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $70,810 | $75,500 | $38,680 | $99,050 | 2,100 |
| Texas | $69,650 | $73,280 | $42,790 | $93,390 | 6,010 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $70,810, a single filer in Houston takes home about $58,645 a year, or $4,887 a month and $2,256 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $70,810 buys what about $71,794 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 5th of 17 Texas metro areas for this job; Midland pays the most ($78,410).
- Midland$78,410
- Austin$74,370
- Odessa$74,020
- Corpus Christi$71,520
- Houston$70,810
- Dallas$69,630
- Beaumont$68,190
- Killeen$68,080
- San Antonio$67,520
- College Station$63,980
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 Houston: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Houston?
$34.05 an hour on average, and $36.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Houston?
About $58,645 a year ($4,887 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,810. Texas has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.31, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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