Crane and Tower Operators salary in Pennsylvania
Crane and Tower Operators in Pennsylvania earn a median of $65,190 a year ($31.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,380 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.27 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $68,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| 25th percentile | $53,770 | $25.85 |
| Median | $65,190 | $31.34 |
| 75th percentile | $75,070 | $36.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,380 | $51.14 |
| Average (mean) | $68,580 | $32.97 |
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 | $5,432.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,716.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,507.31 |
| Weekly | $1,253.65 |
| Hourly | $31.34 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | $98,860 | 60 |
| Lancaster, PA | $72,150 | 80 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $72,010 | 790 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $71,770 | 50 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $63,680 | 60 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,190 | 90 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,510 | 330 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $51,450 | 80 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,480 | $20.43 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,690 | $20.05 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $60,660 | $29.16 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,580 | $28.16 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Pennsylvania is $65,190 a year, or $31.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Pennsylvania earn at least $106,380 a year. The top 25% earn $75,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,320 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $53,770 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Pennsylvania?
About 1,630 crane and tower operators are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.