Crane and Tower Operators Salary in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
Crane and Tower Operators in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI make a median of $65,330 a year, or about $31.41 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $68,373 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,519/month — about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $65K get you in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $130K | +96% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $116K | +75% | 220 |
| Oregon | $110K | +66% | 460 |
| New York | $110K | +66% | 1,330 |
| District of Columbia | $106K | +60% | 50 |
| Washington | $97K | +46% | 890 |
| Montana | $92K | +38% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +33% | 740 |
| Connecticut | $87K | +31% | 260 |
| Alaska | $81K | +22% | 50 |
| Michigan | $77K | +16% | 1,210 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +15% | 480 |
| Wyoming | $76K | +15% | 120 |
| North Dakota | $75K | +13% | 220 |
| Vermont | $74K | +11% | 120 |
| Idaho | $73K | +11% | N/A |
| Texas | $73K | +10% | 6,650 |
| Oklahoma | $72K | +8% | 540 |
| South Dakota | $70K | +6% | 50 |
| Florida | $70K | +6% | 2,460 |
| California | $70K | +5% | 2,010 |
| Utah | $69K | +4% | 510 |
| Wisconsin | $68K | +3% | 730 |
| Arizona | $68K | +2% | 1,110 |
| Minnesota | $67K | +1% | 170 |
| Georgia | $67K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Maryland | $67K | +1% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $67K | +1% | 290 |
| Virginia | $65K | -1% | 1,280 |
| Kansas | $64K | -3% | 620 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | -4% | 190 |
| Delaware | $63K | -5% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -6% | 770 |
| Ohio | $62K | -6% | 2,120 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -6% | 1,100 |
| Maine | $61K | -8% | 430 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -8% | 1,750 |
| New Mexico | $61K | -8% | 110 |
| Indiana | $58K | -13% | 1,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | -13% | 1,650 |
| Tennessee | $57K | -15% | 500 |
| Iowa | $56K | -16% | 570 |
| South Carolina | $55K | -17% | 980 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -17% | 770 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -18% | 200 |
| Illinois | $53K | -20% | 1,100 |
| Alabama | $48K | -28% | 1,170 |
| Missouri | $47K | -30% | 470 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -36% | 670 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do crane and tower operators make in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI?
The median is $65,330 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,580, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $93,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,297/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,519/month, which eats 35.4% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (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 $68,373 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.