Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Arkansas make a median of $41,600 a year, or about $20 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $47,467 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Arkansas?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for crane and tower operators in Arkansas runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $68K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for crane and tower operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Arkansas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $46K | +12% | N/A |
| Fort Smith | $44K | +7% | 90 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $42K | +2% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,155/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is crane and tower operator a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $42K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Arkansas pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Arkansas?
The median is $41,600 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,920, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $64,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,834/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 36% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a crane and tower operators salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median crane and tower operators salary is worth about $47,467 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do crane and tower operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.