Crane and Tower Operators salary in North Carolina
Crane and Tower Operators in North Carolina earn a median of $64,480 a year ($31.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,730 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $68,080. North Carolina ranks 30th 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 $65,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| 25th percentile | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Median | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| 75th percentile | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,730 | $39.77 |
| Average (mean) | $65,620 | $31.55 |
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 | $5,373.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,686.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480 |
| Weekly | $1,240 |
| Hourly | $31.00 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $73,710 | 40 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $73,420 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $72,520 | 170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $71,400 | 430 |
| Wilmington, NC | $68,670 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $67,280 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $64,730 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,300 | 300 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in North Carolina is $64,480 a year, or $31.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in North Carolina earn at least $82,730 a year. The top 25% earn $77,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,530 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $55,070 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in North Carolina?
About 1,050 crane and tower operators are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.