Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Massachusetts make a median of $98,150 a year, or about $47.19 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $98,062 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 37.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in Massachusetts?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for crane and tower operators, local pay runs about 44% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 38.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Massachusetts
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $122K | +25% | 110 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $98K | -0% | 500 |
| Springfield | $90K | -8% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 38.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,592/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 44% above the national median — $98K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Massachusetts pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Massachusetts?
The median is $98,150 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,860, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $129,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,044/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 38.8% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median crane and tower operators salary is worth about $98,062 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.