Crane and Tower Operators salary in Tulsa, OK
Crane and Tower Operators in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median of $76,400 a year ($36.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,500 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 20% higher than the Oklahoma statewide median of $63,590. There are 0.44 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,390, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Tulsa, OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| 25th percentile | $56,750 | $27.28 |
| Median | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| 75th percentile | $78,160 | $37.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,500 | $39.66 |
| Average (mean) | $70,390 | $33.84 |
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 | $6,366.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,183.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,938.46 |
| Weekly | $1,469.23 |
| Hourly | $36.73 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,110 | 150 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $44,330 | 90 |
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 Oklahoma statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $31,190 | $15.00 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $36,680 | $17.63 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,790 | $28.26 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,890 | $19.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,100 | $28.89 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $29,320 | $14.10 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,810 | $15.78 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa, OK?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $76,400 a year, or $36.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Tulsa, OK?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn at least $82,500 a year. The top 25% earn $78,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Tulsa, OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,590 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $56,750 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Tulsa, OK?
About 200 crane and tower operators are employed in the Tulsa, OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.