Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in North Dakota make a median of $82,890 a year, or about $39.85 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $93,250 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in North Dakota?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota 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 $1,034/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for crane and tower operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in North Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $82K | -1% | 40 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,012/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 North Dakota?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $83K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
North Dakota pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in North Dakota?
The median is $82,890 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,200, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $96,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,424/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 19.1% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $93,250 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.