Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Illinois make a median of $61,820 a year, or about $29.72 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $65,871 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 34.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Illinois?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Illinois
Crane and tower operators pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Illinois
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $56K | -10% | 1,880 |
| Rockford | $49K | -20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 34.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/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 Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,488/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Illinois pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Illinois?
The median is $61,820 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,470, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $131,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,054/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 34.7% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $65,871 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.