Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Minnesota make a median of $80,930 a year, or about $38.91 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $87,397 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Minnesota?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for crane and tower operators, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Minnesota
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $100K | +23% | 180 |
| Duluth | $75K | -7% | 40 |
| St. Cloud | $58K | -29% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,155/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $81K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Minnesota pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Minnesota?
The median is $80,930 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,590, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $116,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,104/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 27.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a crane and tower operators salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $87,397 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.