Crane and Tower Operators salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Crane and Tower Operators in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $55,000 a year ($26.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,330 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 5% lower than the Ohio statewide median of $57,620. There are 0.19 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $63,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,000 | $19.71 |
| 25th percentile | $45,700 | $21.97 |
| Median | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| 75th percentile | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| Average (mean) | $63,630 | $30.59 |
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 | $4,583.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,291.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,115.38 |
| Weekly | $1,057.69 |
| Hourly | $26.44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $83,040 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $80,850 | 170 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $74,130 | 50 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $72,070 | 110 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $72,020 | 340 |
| Columbus, OH | $66,710 | 120 |
| Akron, OH | $64,650 | 120 |
| Evansville, IN | $64,100 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $63,070 | 30 |
| Cleveland, OH | $57,620 | 400 |
| Toledo, OH | $57,020 | 120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $56,780 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $55,890 | 1,880 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $54,300 | 80 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $50,550 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $49,440 | 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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,680 | $17.64 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $44,390 | $21.34 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $50,380 | $24.22 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $79,010 | $37.99 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,590 | $29.13 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,900 | $30.72 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $55,000 a year, or $26.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $103,330 a year. The top 25% earn $87,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,000 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $45,700 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 210 crane and tower operators are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.