Crane and Tower Operators salary in Fresno, CA
Crane and Tower Operators in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median of $77,330 a year ($37.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,650 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $79,570. There are 0.11 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $91,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Fresno, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,510 | $31.01 |
| 25th percentile | $72,940 | $35.07 |
| Median | $77,330 | $37.18 |
| 75th percentile | $130,120 | $62.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,650 | $64.74 |
| Average (mean) | $91,850 | $44.16 |
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 | $6,444.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,222.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,974.23 |
| Weekly | $1,487.12 |
| Hourly | $37.18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,410 | 240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,490 | 590 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,720 | 210 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,310 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,140 | 260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $77,320 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,130 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $70,840 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,500 | 170 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,360 | $20.85 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $65,950 | $31.71 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $36,950 | $17.76 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $59,540 | $28.62 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,740 | $26.80 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,170 | $20.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $47,170 | $22.68 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Fresno, CA
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 Fresno, CA?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Fresno, CA metro area is $77,330 a year, or $37.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Fresno, CA?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Fresno, CA metro area earn at least $134,650 a year. The top 25% earn $130,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Fresno, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,510 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $72,940 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Fresno, CA?
About 50 crane and tower operators are employed in the Fresno, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.