Crane and Tower Operators salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Crane and Tower Operators in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $76,750 a year ($36.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,560 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 29% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $59,410. There are 0.20 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $68,450, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,980 | $21.63 |
| 25th percentile | $46,840 | $22.52 |
| Median | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| 75th percentile | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,560 | $41.62 |
| Average (mean) | $68,450 | $32.91 |
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 | $6,395.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,197.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,951.92 |
| Weekly | $1,475.96 |
| Hourly | $36.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $76,750 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | $59,410 | 70 |
| Knoxville, TN | $58,670 | 110 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,600 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $45,280 | 60 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,790 | $19.13 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,760 | $17.68 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $57,650 | $27.71 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,200 | $18.84 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $35,390 | $17.02 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $54,040 | $25.98 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $43,190 | $20.76 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $76,750 a year, or $36.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $86,560 a year. The top 25% earn $84,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,980 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $46,840 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 210 crane and tower operators are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.