Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area make a median of $54,830 a year, or about $26.36 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $55K actually covers in Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area, month by month
About crane and tower operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Crane and Tower Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124K | +83% | 190 |
| Nevada | $116K | +70% | 380 |
| Rhode Island | $104K | +53% | N/A |
| Washington | $101K | +49% | 1,030 |
| New Jersey | $101K | +48% | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $98K | +44% | 680 |
| Alaska | $92K | +36% | 50 |
| Maryland | $88K | +29% | N/A |
| New York | $86K | +26% | 1,150 |
| Oregon | $83K | +22% | 340 |
| North Dakota | $83K | +22% | 180 |
| Montana | $83K | +22% | 30 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +20% | 220 |
| Minnesota | $81K | +19% | 370 |
| California | $80K | +17% | 2,130 |
| Wyoming | $78K | +15% | 230 |
| Colorado | $77K | +13% | 470 |
| Kansas | $77K | +13% | 780 |
| Texas | $73K | +8% | 6,010 |
| Vermont | $73K | +7% | 170 |
| Florida | $72K | +5% | 2,570 |
| South Dakota | $71K | +4% | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $68K | -1% | 440 |
| Iowa | $68K | -1% | 650 |
| Utah | $67K | -1% | 440 |
| Arizona | $67K | -1% | 930 |
| Virginia | $67K | -2% | 1,120 |
| Maine | $66K | -4% | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | -4% | 1,630 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -5% | 1,050 |
| South Carolina | $64K | -6% | 720 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -7% | 620 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | -7% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -8% | 290 |
| Georgia | $62K | -9% | 1,370 |
| Kentucky | $62K | -9% | 640 |
| Illinois | $62K | -9% | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -10% | 550 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -10% | 1,930 |
| Alabama | $61K | -11% | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -11% | 410 |
| Delaware | $60K | -12% | 220 |
| Michigan | $60K | -12% | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -13% | 660 |
| Missouri | $58K | -14% | 630 |
| Ohio | $58K | -15% | 1,780 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -19% | 170 |
| Indiana | $53K | -22% | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $53K | -22% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $42K | -39% | 880 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,180/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,583/month.
Is crane and tower operator a high-paying job in Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $55K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -19%.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $54,830 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,050, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $58,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,680/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,180/month, which eats 32.1% 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 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median crane and tower operators salary is worth about $54,830 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.