Crane and Tower Operators salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Crane and Tower Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $55,890 a year ($26.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,880 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,760 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 10% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $61,820. There are 0.42 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,290 | $19.37 |
| 25th percentile | $41,460 | $19.93 |
| Median | $55,890 | $26.87 |
| 75th percentile | $67,440 | $32.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,760 | $51.81 |
| Average (mean) | $62,560 | $30.08 |
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 | $4,657.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,328.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,149.62 |
| Weekly | $1,074.81 |
| Hourly | $26.87 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $80,850 | 170 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $72,020 | 340 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $69,270 | 110 |
| Evansville, IN | $64,100 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $63,070 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,000 | 210 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $50,550 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $49,440 | 40 |
| Rockford, IL | $49,400 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $46,170 | 320 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $77,470 | $37.24 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $118,210 | $56.83 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,180 | $23.64 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $55,890 a year, or $26.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $107,760 a year. The top 25% earn $67,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,290 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $41,460 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,880 crane and tower operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.