Crane and Tower Operators salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Crane and Tower Operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $63,300 a year ($30.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,730 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 2% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $64,480. There are 0.22 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| 25th percentile | $53,840 | $25.89 |
| Median | $63,300 | $30.43 |
| 75th percentile | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,730 | $39.77 |
| Average (mean) | $64,610 | $31.06 |
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 | $5,275 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,637.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,434.62 |
| Weekly | $1,217.31 |
| Hourly | $30.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $80,880 | 320 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $76,940 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $73,710 | 40 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $73,420 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $72,520 | 170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $71,400 | 430 |
| Wilmington, NC | $68,670 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $67,280 | 100 |
| Columbia, SC | $65,870 | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $64,730 | 80 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $58,370 | 90 |
| Florence, SC | $48,100 | 60 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $47,200 | 60 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,880 | $21.10 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,470 | $23.78 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,550 | $19.02 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $35,520 | $17.08 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,120 | $26.98 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,830 | $18.19 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $63,300 a year, or $30.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $82,730 a year. The top 25% earn $77,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,410 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $53,840 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 300 crane and tower operators are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.