Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,700 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Washington earn between $70,250 and $94,700.
- $62K10th
- $70K25th
- $92KMedian
- $95K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,830 | $6,986 | $40.30 |
| Median | $92,120 | $7,677 | $44.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $70,250 | $5,854 | $33.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,700 | $7,892 | $45.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Washington earn 16% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,830 | $92,120 | $62,300 | $94,700 | 410 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $83,830, a single filer in Washington takes home about $63,647 a year, or $5,304 a month and $2,448 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $64,854 | $5,405 |
| Working in MD | $64,034 | $5,336 |
| Working in VA | $63,798 | $5,317 |
| Working in DC | $63,647 | $5,304 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $83,830 buys what about $76,990 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$79,360
- Winchester, VA$66,620
- York, PA$61,500
- Richmond, VA$61,080
- Harrisburg, PA$61,370
- Lancaster, PA$68,850
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 Washington: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Washington?
$40.30 an hour on average, and $44.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $70,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Washington?
About $63,647 a year ($5,304 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,830.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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