Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Roanoke
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,980 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Roanoke earn between $43,990 and $63,260.
- $36K10th
- $44K25th
- $53KMedian
- $63K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,380 | $4,782 | $27.59 |
| Median | $52,540 | $4,378 | $25.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,990 | $3,666 | $21.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,260 | $5,272 | $30.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Roanoke vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Roanoke earn 14% less than the Virginia average ($66,470) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $57,380 | $52,540 | $35,990 | $80,980 | 40 |
| Virginia | $66,470 | $66,600 | $42,720 | $88,480 | 1,120 |
| 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 Roanoke
On the average salary of $57,380, a single filer in Roanoke takes home about $45,800 a year, or $3,817 a month and $1,762 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Roanoke a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Roanoke area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $57,380 buys what about $61,292 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Roanoke ($47,140). A typical home costs $301,139, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Virginia cities
Roanoke ranks 4th of 4 Virginia metro areas for this job; Virginia Beach pays the most ($71,430).
- Virginia Beach$71,430
- Winchester$66,620
- Richmond$61,080
- Roanoke$57,380
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 Roanoke: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Roanoke?
$27.59 an hour on average, and $25.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Roanoke?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Roanoke?
About $45,800 a year ($3,817 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,380.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Roanoke than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less 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 Roanoke, VA (40220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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