Crane and Tower Operators salary in Waco, TX
Crane and Tower Operators in the Waco, TX metro area earn a median of $61,350 a year ($29.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,030 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 16% lower than the Texas statewide median of $73,280. There are 0.35 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Waco, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| 25th percentile | $50,680 | $24.36 |
| Median | $61,350 | $29.50 |
| 75th percentile | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,030 | $45.21 |
| Average (mean) | $63,070 | $30.32 |
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 | $5,112.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,556.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,359.62 |
| Weekly | $1,179.81 |
| Hourly | $29.50 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Crane and Tower Operators pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waco, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $32,680 | $15.71 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $28,070 | $13.50 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $40,320 | $19.39 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,600 | $16.16 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $30,290 | $14.56 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Waco, TX
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 Waco, TX?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Waco, TX metro area is $61,350 a year, or $29.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Waco, TX?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Waco, TX metro area earn at least $94,030 a year. The top 25% earn $74,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Waco, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,190 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $50,680 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Waco, TX?
About 50 crane and tower operators are employed in the Waco, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.