Crane and Tower Operators salary in Kentucky
Crane and Tower Operators in Kentucky earn a median of $62,000 a year ($29.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,660 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $68,080. Kentucky ranks 36th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.32 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $63,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,810 | $19.62 |
| 25th percentile | $45,830 | $22.03 |
| Median | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| 75th percentile | $80,040 | $38.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Average (mean) | $63,750 | $30.65 |
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 | $5,166.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,583.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,384.62 |
| Weekly | $1,192.31 |
| Hourly | $29.81 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $80,850 | 170 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $74,130 | 50 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $63,070 | 30 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $56,780 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,000 | 210 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Kentucky is $62,000 a year, or $29.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Kentucky earn at least $89,660 a year. The top 25% earn $80,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,810 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $45,830 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Kentucky?
About 640 crane and tower operators are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.