Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Montana make a median of $82,800 a year, or about $39.81 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $85,361 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $83K get you in Montana?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for crane and tower operators, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Montana offers a genuinely strong financial position for crane and tower operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $50K 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 Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,118/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Montana?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $83K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Montana pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Montana?
The median is $82,800 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,970, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $101,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,238/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $85,361 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.