Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Nevada make a median of $115,840 a year, or about $55.69 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.79), that's roughly $116,084 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,501/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nevada. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $116K get you in Nevada?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Nevada
Nevada sits well above the national pay line for crane and tower operators, local pay runs about 70% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,501/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.79) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Nevada offers a genuinely strong financial position for crane and tower operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nevada
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $116K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Nevada
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $132K | +14% | N/A |
| Reno | $101K | -13% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nevada numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nevada?
Yes — at the median salary of $116K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in Nevada?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,688/month. At HUD’s $1,501/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Nevada?
Local pay is 70% above the national median — $116K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Nevada compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Nevada pays $116K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +70%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Nevada?
The median is $115,840 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,460, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $135,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $116K enough to live in Nevada?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,490/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,501/month, which eats 20% 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 Nevada?
Nevada has a Regional Price Parity of 99.79 (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 $116,084 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.