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Crane and Tower Operators

Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 53-7021.00United States

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$68,154

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+6%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Certificate

60.6% of the workforce

Employment
46.41K jobs

Growing to 49.19K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What crane and tower operators do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
  • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
  • Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
  • Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
  • Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
  • Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$42,537
25th percentile
$52,599
50th percentile
$68,154
75th percentile
$83,521
90th percentile
$104,873

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $68,154 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+6%average or slower
202546,409 jobs
2035 projected49,193 jobs

2,784 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Certificate
60.6%
High school diploma or less
39.4%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Hoisting
  • Lifting Ability
  • Loading And Unloading
  • Machinery
  • Occupational Safety And Health
  • Heavy Equipment
  • Safety Standards
  • Overhead Crane Operation
  • Forklift Truck
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Warehousing
  • Safety Procedures
  • Construction
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Good Driving Record
  • Material Handling
  • Pre-Trip And Post-Trip Vehicle Inspections
  • Planned Maintenance
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Hydraulics

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Crane Operators3,195 postings
  2. 02Certified Crane Operators346 postings
  3. 03CDL-A Truck Drivers164 postings
  4. 04Mobile Crane Operators112 postings
  5. 05Crane Drivers83 postings
  6. 06Tower Crane Operators74 postings
  7. 07Hydraulic Specialists59 postings
  8. 08Operators31 postings
  9. 09Boom Truck Operators30 postings
  10. 10CDL-A CDL-B Truck Drivers30 postings
  11. 11Transportation Operators27 postings
  12. 12Laborer Journeymen26 postings
  13. 13Bridge Engineers23 postings
  14. 14Equipment Operators23 postings
  15. 15Container Crane Operators22 postings
  16. 16Overhead Crane Operators20 postings
  17. 17Lorry Drivers17 postings
  18. 18Service Apprentices17 postings
  19. 19Boom Operators16 postings
  20. 20Truck Operators14 postings

Top employers

  1. 01SRS Distribution88 postings
  2. 02Aerotek70 postings
  3. 03Trillium Staffing49 postings
  4. 04Austin Industrial47 postings
  5. 05Skilled Trades Services47 postings
  6. 06Brown & Root Industrial Services45 postings
  7. 07National Trench Safety43 postings
  8. 08Brown & Root36 postings
  9. 09Beyel Brothers33 postings
  10. 10Builders FirstSource33 postings
  11. 11Garney Construction30 postings
  12. 12Guy M Turner29 postings
  13. 13Commercial Metals28 postings
  14. 14Sims Crane & Equipment Co28 postings
  15. 15GPAC25 postings
  16. 16Sterling Crane25 postings
  17. 17TIC25 postings
  18. 18Commonwealth Of Virginia23 postings
  19. 19Bechtel22 postings
  20. 20Infra-Metals Co.20 postings

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