Crane and Tower Operators salary in California
Crane and Tower Operators in California earn a median of $79,570 a year ($38.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,820 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $68,080. California ranks 15th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.12 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $87,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| 25th percentile | $66,620 | $32.03 |
| Median | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| 75th percentile | $100,860 | $48.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,820 | $65.30 |
| Average (mean) | $87,030 | $41.84 |
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 | $6,630.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,315.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,060.38 |
| Weekly | $1,530.19 |
| Hourly | $38.25 |
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 cities in California
| 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 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $70,840 | 160 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $40,380 | $19.41 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.74 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in California is $79,570 a year, or $38.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in California?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in California earn at least $135,820 a year. The top 25% earn $100,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,550 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $66,620 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in California?
About 2,130 crane and tower operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.