Crane and Tower Operators salary in Alaska
Crane and Tower Operators in Alaska earn a median of $92,490 a year ($44.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $116,480 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $68,080. Alaska ranks 7th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.16 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $91,790, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Alaska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,060 | $38.97 |
| 25th percentile | $81,930 | $39.39 |
| Median | $92,490 | $44.47 |
| 75th percentile | $96,740 | $46.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,480 | $56.00 |
| Average (mean) | $91,790 | $44.13 |
Half of crane and tower operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,707.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,853.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,557.31 |
| Weekly | $1,778.65 |
| Hourly | $44.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for crane and tower operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $124,260 |
| Nevada | $115,840 |
| Rhode Island | $104,340 |
| Washington | $101,110 |
| New Jersey | $100,640 |
| Massachusetts | $98,150 |
| Alaska | $92,490 |
| Maryland | $87,950 |
| New York | $85,850 |
| Oregon | $83,260 |
Related jobs in Alaska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,210 | $19.33 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $41,670 | $20.04 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $54,190 | $26.05 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $80,210 | $38.56 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $106,440 | $51.17 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $70,100 | $33.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Light Truck Driver | $57,190 | $27.50 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | — |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $48,420 | $23.28 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Alaska
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operators make in Alaska?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Alaska is $92,490 a year, or $44.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $116,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Alaska?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Alaska earn at least $116,480 a year. The top 25% earn $96,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Alaska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,060 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $81,930 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Alaska?
About 50 crane and tower operators are employed in Alaska, not counting the self-employed.