Crane and Tower Operators Salary in Texas
Crane and Tower Operators in Texas make a median of $72,870 a year, or about $35.03 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Texas?
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, Texas
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Texas
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $80K | +9% | 190 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $75K | +4% | 2,390 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $75K | +3% | 250 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $75K | +2% | 1,380 |
| Corpus Christi | $73K | +0% | 360 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $72K | -2% | 250 |
| Longview | $66K | -9% | N/A |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $66K | -9% | 300 |
| Amarillo | $64K | -13% | 40 |
| Odessa | $61K | -16% | 120 |
| Waco | $61K | -16% | 40 |
| El Paso | $58K | -20% | 120 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $58K | -21% | 40 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $54K | -26% | 80 |
| Tyler | $52K | -29% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track crane and tower operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do crane and tower operators make in Texas?
The median is $72,870 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,060, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $92,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,971/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 28.5% 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 Texas?
Texas 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 $79,648 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.