Crane and Tower Operators salary in Midland, TX
Crane and Tower Operators in the Midland, TX metro area earn a median of $79,220 a year ($38.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,720 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 8% higher than the Texas statewide median of $73,280. There are 1.3 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,410, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Midland, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| 25th percentile | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| Median | $79,220 | $38.09 |
| 75th percentile | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,720 | $44.10 |
| Average (mean) | $78,410 | $37.70 |
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 | $6,601.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,300.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,046.92 |
| Weekly | $1,523.46 |
| Hourly | $38.09 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $76,010 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $75,500 | 2,100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $75,360 | 230 |
| Odessa, TX | $75,310 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $74,200 | 330 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $73,050 | 240 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,640 | 1,310 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $68,200 | 270 |
| El Paso, TX | $62,280 | 120 |
| Waco, TX | $61,350 | 50 |
| Longview, TX | $60,830 | n/a |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $60,520 | 40 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $56,300 | 50 |
| Tyler, TX | $55,930 | 30 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $54,060 | 30 |
| San Angelo, TX | $45,950 | 40 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Midland, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $72,110 | $34.67 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,140 | $16.90 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,350 | $16.52 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $56,660 | $27.24 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $70,840 | $34.06 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $51,950 | $24.98 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Midland, TX
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 Midland, TX?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Midland, TX metro area is $79,220 a year, or $38.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Midland, TX?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Midland, TX metro area earn at least $91,720 a year. The top 25% earn $80,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Midland, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,270 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $74,740 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Midland, TX?
About 150 crane and tower operators are employed in the Midland, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.