Crane and Tower Operators salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Crane and Tower Operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $44,330 a year ($21.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,100 for the top 10%. That is 35% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 7% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $41,600. There are 0.92 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 25th percentile | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Median | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| 75th percentile | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Average (mean) | $49,450 | $23.78 |
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 | $3,694.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,847.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,705 |
| Weekly | $852.50 |
| Hourly | $21.31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $76,400 | 200 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,110 | 150 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,600 | 110 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $46,430 | n/a |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $42,380 | n/a |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $41,420 | $19.92 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Light Truck Driver | $35,560 | $17.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,120 | $18.33 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,770 | $15.76 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $47,910 | $23.04 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $44,330 a year, or $21.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $64,100 a year. The top 25% earn $64,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,400 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $40,230 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 90 crane and tower operators are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.