Crane and Tower Operators Salary
Crane and Tower Operators in Vermont make a median of $72,760 a year, or about $34.98 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.95), that's roughly $72,075 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,498/month, about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Vermont. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Vermont?
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What this looks like in Vermont
Crane and tower operators pay in Vermont tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,498/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.95) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Vermont
Entry-level crane and tower operators (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Crane and Tower Operators salary by metro in Vermont
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington | $77K | +7% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Vermont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a crane and tower operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vermont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,498/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Vermont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new crane and tower operators typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,664/month. At HUD’s $1,498/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Vermont?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Vermont compare to the national average for crane and tower operators?
Vermont pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do crane and tower operators make in Vermont?
The median is $72,760 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,070, and experienced crane and tower operators can clear $105,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Vermont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,768/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,498/month, which eats 31.4% 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 Vermont?
Vermont has a Regional Price Parity of 100.95 (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 $72,075 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.