Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Rhode Island make a median of $104,340 a year, or about $50.16 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $102,525 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in Rhode Island?
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sits well above the national pay line for crane and tower operators, local pay runs about 53% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,544/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Rhode Island offers a genuinely strong financial position for crane and tower operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $90K | -14% | 130 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,048/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Rhode Island?
Local pay is 53% above the national median — $104K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Rhode Island pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +53%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Rhode Island?
The median is $104,340 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,460, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $132,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,504/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median crane and tower operators salary is worth about $102,525 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.