Crane and Tower Operators salary in Washington
Crane and Tower Operators in Washington earn a median of $101,110 a year ($48.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,550 for the top 10%. That is 49% higher than the national median of $68,080. Washington ranks 4th of 50 states for crane and tower operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.29 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $101,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| 25th percentile | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| Median | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| 75th percentile | $124,520 | $59.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,550 | $64.21 |
| Average (mean) | $101,600 | $48.85 |
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 | $8,425.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,212.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,888.85 |
| Weekly | $1,944.42 |
| Hourly | $48.61 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $120,310 | 40 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $116,840 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $114,330 | 570 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $99,320 | 110 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $80,260 | 210 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $79,500 | 70 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $74,620 | $35.88 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $43,480 | $20.90 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $57,500 | $27.65 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $71,640 | $34.44 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $74,250 | $35.70 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in Washington is $101,110 a year, or $48.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Washington?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in Washington earn at least $133,550 a year. The top 25% earn $124,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,180 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $79,150 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Washington?
About 1,030 crane and tower operators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.