Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in South Dakota make a median of $71,000 a year, or about $34.13 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $78,985 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in South Dakota?
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Crane and tower operators pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $64K | -10% | 70 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for crane and tower operators in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,502/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is crane and tower operator a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
South Dakota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in South Dakota?
The median is $71,000 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,370, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $93,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,861/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 20.9% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $78,985 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.