Crane and Tower Operators salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Crane and Tower Operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $73,710 a year ($35.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,860 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 14% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $64,480. There are 0.12 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $70,350, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,440 | $25.69 |
| 25th percentile | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| Median | $73,710 | $35.44 |
| 75th percentile | $79,320 | $38.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,860 | $39.84 |
| Average (mean) | $70,350 | $33.82 |
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 | $6,142.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,071.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,835 |
| Weekly | $1,417.50 |
| Hourly | $35.44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount, NC | $73,420 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $72,520 | 170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $71,400 | 430 |
| Wilmington, NC | $68,670 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $67,280 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $64,730 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,300 | 300 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,410 | $17.50 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,220 | $17.42 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,280 | $25.61 |
| Light Truck Driver | $40,730 | $19.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $30,970 | $14.89 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Parking Attendant | $30,280 | $14.56 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $73,710 a year, or $35.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $82,860 a year. The top 25% earn $79,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,440 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $62,550 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 40 crane and tower operators are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.