Crane and Tower Operators salary in Virginia
Crane and Tower Operators in Virginia earn a median of $66,600 a year ($32.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,480 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $68,080. Virginia ranks 27th 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 $66,470, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,720 | $20.54 |
| 25th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| Median | $66,600 | $32.02 |
| 75th percentile | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,480 | $42.54 |
| Average (mean) | $66,470 | $31.96 |
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 | $5,550 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,775 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,561.54 |
| Weekly | $1,280.77 |
| Hourly | $32.02 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,120 | 410 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $71,400 | 430 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $63,480 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $61,180 | 170 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,540 | 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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,380 | $18.94 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $49,770 | $23.93 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $66,500 | $31.97 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $41,190 | $19.81 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,860 | $27.34 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Virginia is $66,600 a year, or $32.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Virginia?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Virginia earn at least $88,480 a year. The top 25% earn $77,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,720 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $54,770 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Virginia?
About 1,120 crane and tower operators are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.