Crane and Tower Operators salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Crane and Tower Operators in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median of $70,840 a year ($34.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,780 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 11% lower than the California statewide median of $79,570. There are 0.48 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| 25th percentile | $61,410 | $29.53 |
| Median | $70,840 | $34.06 |
| 75th percentile | $79,410 | $38.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,780 | $55.67 |
| Average (mean) | $76,190 | $36.63 |
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 | $5,903.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,951.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,724.62 |
| Weekly | $1,362.31 |
| Hourly | $34.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,410 | 240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,490 | 590 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,720 | 210 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,310 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,140 | 260 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,330 | 50 |
| Vallejo, CA | $77,320 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,130 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,500 | 170 |
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 |
See Crane and Tower Operators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,890 | $22.55 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,980 | $21.62 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $57,490 | $27.64 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $38,470 | $18.49 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,690 | $27.73 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,320 | $20.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $67,490 | $32.45 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $34,320 | $16.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
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 Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $70,840 a year, or $34.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn at least $115,780 a year. The top 25% earn $79,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,340 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $61,410 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
About 160 crane and tower operators are employed in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.