Crane and Tower Operator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A crane and tower operator earns a median of $68,080 a year ($32.73 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $72,130. About 42,890 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $68,080
- Gross pay
- $2,618.46
- Federal income tax
- −$236.45
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$162.34
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$37.97
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,181.70
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $68,080
- Federal
- $6,148
- FICA
- $5,208
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $56,724
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Railroad Brake: $68,840
- Wellhead Pumper: $69,960
- Flight Attendant: $63,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker: $62,890
- Pump Operator: $61,770
- Rail Yard Engineer: $60,600
- Traffic Technician: $59,090
- Bus Driver: $59,050
BLS occupation: Crane and Tower Operators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 53-7021). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crane and tower operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $32.73; the average is $34.68.
What is the salary range for a crane and tower operator?
The bottom 10% earn under $42,640 and the top 10% earn over $103,570 a year.
How much is $68,080 after taxes?
About $56,724 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $53,618 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.