Crane and Tower Operators salary in North Dakota
Crane and Tower Operators in North Dakota earn a median of $82,890 a year ($39.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,790 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $68,080. North Dakota ranks 11th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.41 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $79,800, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in North Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,200 | $24.14 |
| 25th percentile | $70,880 | $34.08 |
| Median | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| 75th percentile | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,790 | $46.53 |
| Average (mean) | $79,800 | $38.37 |
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 | $6,907.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,453.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,188.08 |
| Weekly | $1,594.04 |
| Hourly | $39.85 |
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 Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $81,980 | 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 |
Related jobs in North Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $79,820 | $38.38 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $31,440 | $15.11 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $47,770 | $22.96 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $81,400 | $39.14 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,910 | $29.29 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,070 | $31.28 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,610 | $18.56 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Dakota
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 Dakota?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in North Dakota is $82,890 a year, or $39.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in North Dakota?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in North Dakota earn at least $96,790 a year. The top 25% earn $89,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in North Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,200 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $70,880 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in North Dakota?
About 180 crane and tower operators are employed in North Dakota, not counting the self-employed.