Crane and Tower Operators salary in Missouri
Crane and Tower Operators in Missouri earn a median of $58,450 a year ($28.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 630 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,580 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $68,080. Missouri ranks 45th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.21 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $63,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,680 | $19.56 |
| 25th percentile | $41,210 | $19.81 |
| Median | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| 75th percentile | $81,740 | $39.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,580 | $45.95 |
| Average (mean) | $63,850 | $30.70 |
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 | $4,870.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,435.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,248.08 |
| Weekly | $1,124.04 |
| Hourly | $28.10 |
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 Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $81,150 | 330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $46,170 | 320 |
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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,190 | $21.73 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $57,750 | $27.76 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,500 | $21.88 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Missouri is $58,450 a year, or $28.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Missouri?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Missouri earn at least $95,580 a year. The top 25% earn $81,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,680 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $41,210 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Missouri?
About 630 crane and tower operators are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.