Crane and Tower Operators salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Crane and Tower Operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $81,490 a year ($39.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,820 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 2% higher than the California statewide median of $79,570. There are 0.09 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $94,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| 25th percentile | $76,340 | $36.70 |
| Median | $81,490 | $39.18 |
| 75th percentile | $135,430 | $65.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,820 | $65.30 |
| Average (mean) | $94,960 | $45.65 |
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 | $6,790.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,395.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,134.23 |
| Weekly | $1,567.12 |
| Hourly | $39.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $81,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,410 | 240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,720 | 210 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,310 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,140 | 260 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,330 | 50 |
| Vallejo, CA | $77,320 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,130 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $70,840 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,500 | 170 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,600 | $22.41 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $62,490 | $30.04 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,340 | $29.01 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,190 | $29.90 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,460 | $21.37 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $81,490 a year, or $39.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $135,820 a year. The top 25% earn $135,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,420 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $76,340 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 590 crane and tower operators are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.