Crane and Tower Operators salary in Texas
Crane and Tower Operators in Texas earn a median of $73,280 a year ($35.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,390 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $68,080. Texas ranks 19th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay. There are 0.43 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $69,650, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,790 | $20.57 |
| 25th percentile | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Median | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| 75th percentile | $79,880 | $38.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,390 | $44.90 |
| Average (mean) | $69,650 | $33.49 |
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 | $6,106.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,053.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,818.46 |
| Weekly | $1,409.23 |
| Hourly | $35.23 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $79,220 | 150 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $76,010 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $75,500 | 2,100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $75,360 | 230 |
| Odessa, TX | $75,310 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $74,200 | 330 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $73,050 | 240 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,640 | 1,310 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $68,200 | 270 |
| El Paso, TX | $62,280 | 120 |
| Waco, TX | $61,350 | 50 |
| Longview, TX | $60,830 | n/a |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $60,520 | 40 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $56,300 | 50 |
| Tyler, TX | $55,930 | 30 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $54,060 | 30 |
| San Angelo, TX | $45,950 | 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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $40,780 | $19.61 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $61,170 | $29.41 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $82,120 | $39.48 |
| Dredge Operator | $65,580 | $31.53 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Texas is $73,280 a year, or $35.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Texas?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Texas earn at least $93,390 a year. The top 25% earn $79,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,790 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $57,020 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Texas?
About 6,010 crane and tower operators are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.