Crane and Tower Operators salary in Louisiana
Crane and Tower Operators in Louisiana earn a median of $61,170 a year ($29.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,620 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $68,080. Louisiana ranks 39th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 1.00 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| 25th percentile | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Median | $61,170 | $29.41 |
| 75th percentile | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,620 | $39.72 |
| Average (mean) | $63,380 | $30.47 |
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 | $5,097.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,548.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,352.69 |
| Weekly | $1,176.35 |
| Hourly | $29.41 |
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 Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $80,700 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $66,680 | 560 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $65,490 | 420 |
| Lafayette, LA | $58,780 | 100 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $57,230 | 300 |
| Monroe, LA | $55,770 | 40 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $48,060 | 120 |
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 Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,340 | $16.99 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,950 | $23.54 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $64,110 | $30.82 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $54,590 | $26.25 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $76,930 | $36.99 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $79,970 | $38.45 |
| Dredge Operator | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,320 | $23.71 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Louisiana is $61,170 a year, or $29.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Louisiana earn at least $82,620 a year. The top 25% earn $75,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,370 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $52,100 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Louisiana?
About 1,930 crane and tower operators are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.