Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Delaware make a median of $60,160 a year, or about $28.92 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $61,696 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 36.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in Delaware?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Delaware
Pay for crane and tower operators in Delaware runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $68K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,448/month, which is 36.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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, Delaware
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 36.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,236/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Delaware?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $60K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Delaware pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Delaware?
The median is $60,160 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,940, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $77,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,968/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 36.5% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $61,696 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.