Crane and Tower Operators salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Crane and Tower Operators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $74,700 a year ($35.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $306,610 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 13% lower than the New York statewide median of $85,850. There are 0.11 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $109,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| 25th percentile | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Median | $74,700 | $35.91 |
| 75th percentile | $114,150 | $54.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $306,610 | $147.41 |
| Average (mean) | $109,610 | $52.70 |
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 | $6,225 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,112.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,873.08 |
| Weekly | $1,436.54 |
| Hourly | $35.91 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,640 | 1,500 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $73,010 | 40 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,970 | $18.26 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,130 | $20.74 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,540 | $16.61 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $52,340 | $25.16 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $38,560 | $18.54 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $42,670 | $20.52 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $50,160 | $24.11 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,160 | $29.41 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $74,700 a year, or $35.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $306,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $306,610 a year. The top 25% earn $114,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,780 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $54,840 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 60 crane and tower operators are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.