Crane and Tower Operators salary in Duluth, MN-WI
Crane and Tower Operators in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $75,230 a year ($36.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,710 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 7% lower than the Minnesota statewide median of $80,930. There are 0.36 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $75,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Duluth, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| 25th percentile | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Median | $75,230 | $36.17 |
| 75th percentile | $83,340 | $40.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,710 | $50.34 |
| Average (mean) | $75,590 | $36.34 |
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 | $6,269.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,134.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,893.46 |
| Weekly | $1,446.73 |
| Hourly | $36.17 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $99,540 | 180 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $81,980 | 40 |
| Green Bay, WI | $73,780 | 40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $63,960 | 70 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $59,430 | 90 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $57,680 | 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 |
See Crane and Tower Operators pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Duluth, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,700 | $16.68 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $61,020 | $29.34 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $41,370 | $19.89 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,740 | $30.64 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $31,170 | $14.98 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,590 | $16.63 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Parking Attendant | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Duluth, MN-WI
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 Duluth, MN-WI?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area is $75,230 a year, or $36.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Duluth, MN-WI?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn at least $104,710 a year. The top 25% earn $83,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Duluth, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,080 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $61,420 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Duluth, MN-WI?
About 40 crane and tower operators are employed in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.