Crane and Tower Operators salary in Florida
Crane and Tower Operators in Florida earn a median of $71,560 a year ($34.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,170 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $68,080. Florida ranks 21st of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.26 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $71,460, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 25th percentile | $58,950 | $28.34 |
| Median | $71,560 | $34.40 |
| 75th percentile | $81,120 | $39.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,170 | $45.27 |
| Average (mean) | $71,460 | $34.36 |
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 | $5,963.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,981.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,752.31 |
| Weekly | $1,376.15 |
| Hourly | $34.40 |
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 Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $81,280 | 50 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $78,100 | 530 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $77,420 | 370 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $77,010 | 160 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $76,510 | 190 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $72,880 | 300 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $64,840 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $64,600 | 340 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $63,780 | 100 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $61,040 | 50 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $60,010 | 80 |
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 Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $35,110 | $16.88 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $45,540 | $21.89 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $33,570 | $16.14 |
| Dredge Operator | $52,800 | $25.39 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,640 | $24.34 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Florida
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 Florida?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Florida is $71,560 a year, or $34.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Florida?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Florida earn at least $94,170 a year. The top 25% earn $81,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,840 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $58,950 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Florida?
About 2,570 crane and tower operators are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.