Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Ohio make a median of $57,620 a year, or about $27.7 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $63,007 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Ohio?
About crane and tower operators
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for crane and tower operators in Ohio runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Ohio
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $83K | +44% | 90 |
| Canton-Massillon | $72K | +25% | 110 |
| Columbus | $67K | +16% | 120 |
| Akron | $65K | +12% | 120 |
| Cleveland | $58K | +0% | 400 |
| Toledo | $57K | -1% | 120 |
| Cincinnati | $55K | -5% | 210 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $54K | -6% | 80 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,515/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $58K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Ohio pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Ohio?
The median is $57,620 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,910, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $98,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,954/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 30% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $63,007 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.