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Salary comparison

Crane and Tower Operators vs. Stockers and Order Fillers: Who Earns More?

Crane and Tower Operatorss out-earn Stockers and Order Fillerss by $31K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Crane and Tower Operatorss land at $68,080 and Stockers and Order Fillerss at $37,330. The education gap is real: crane and tower operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while stockers and order filler programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Crane and Tower Operatorss is Hawaii ($124,260); for Stockers and Order Fillerss it's Washington ($44,620).

Crane and Tower Operators
Stockers and Order Fillers
Median salary
$68,080
$37,330
Hourly rate
$32.73/hr
$17.95/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$42,640
$30,110
Senior level (90th %)
$103,570
$49,260
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
42,890
2,833,810
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
8.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Crane and Tower Operators median pay.

State
Crane and Tower Operators
Stockers and Order Fillers
Hawaii
$124,260
$39,300
Washington
$101,110
$44,620
Massachusetts
$98,150
$37,540
Alaska
$92,490
$40,310
Maryland
$87,950
$37,690
New York
$85,850
$39,030
Oregon
$83,260
$43,480
Montana
$82,800
$39,050
Connecticut
$81,360
$40,590
California
$79,570
$42,870
Wyoming
$77,970
$39,580
Colorado
$77,120
$42,350
South Dakota
$71,000
$37,650
Utah
$67,410
$37,690
Illinois
$61,820
$37,680

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Crane and Tower Operatorss or Stockers and Order Fillerss?

Crane and Tower Operatorss earn more nationally. The median is $68,080 for Crane and Tower Operatorss versus $37,330 for Stockers and Order Fillerss, a difference of $31K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Crane and Tower Operators or Stockers and Order Fillers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Crane and Tower Operators or Stockers and Order Fillers?

Crane and Tower Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Stockers and Order Fillers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Crane and Tower Operatorss get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Crane and Tower Operatorss at $124,260/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Crane and Tower Operators vs. Stockers and Order Fillers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Crane and Tower Operatorss earn $124,260 vs. $39,300 for Stockers and Order Fillerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Crane and Tower Operators salary breakdownView →Full Stockers and Order Fillers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Crane and Tower Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Stockers and Order Fillerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a crane and tower operatorsGuide →How to become a stockers and order fillersGuide →