Crane and Tower Operators salary in Colorado
Crane and Tower Operators in Colorado earn a median of $77,120 a year ($37.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,470 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $68,080. Colorado ranks 17th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.16 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $76,030, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| 25th percentile | $65,500 | $31.49 |
| Median | $77,120 | $37.08 |
| 75th percentile | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,470 | $46.86 |
| Average (mean) | $76,030 | $36.55 |
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 | $6,426.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,213.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,966.15 |
| Weekly | $1,483.08 |
| Hourly | $37.08 |
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 Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,200 | 250 |
| Greeley, CO | $73,340 | 30 |
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 Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $50,570 | $24.31 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $40,730 | $19.58 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $60,310 | $29.00 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $40,480 | $19.46 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $51,200 | $24.61 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $76,200 | $36.63 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,500 | $29.57 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Colorado is $77,120 a year, or $37.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Colorado?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Colorado earn at least $97,470 a year. The top 25% earn $79,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,800 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $65,500 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Colorado?
About 470 crane and tower operators are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.