Crane and Tower Operators salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Crane and Tower Operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $99,540 a year ($47.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,710 for the top 10%. That is 46% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 23% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $80,930. 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 $92,950, close to the median.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,430 | $25.69 |
| 25th percentile | $66,410 | $31.93 |
| Median | $99,540 | $47.86 |
| 75th percentile | $116,660 | $56.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,710 | $58.04 |
| Average (mean) | $92,950 | $44.69 |
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 | $8,295 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,147.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,828.46 |
| Weekly | $1,914.23 |
| Hourly | $47.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $99,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $81,980 | 40 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $75,230 | 40 |
| Green Bay, WI | $73,780 | 40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $63,960 | 70 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $59,430 | 90 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $57,680 | 30 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,890 | $19.18 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $64,410 | $30.97 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $50,170 | $24.12 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $53,650 | $25.80 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $78,400 | $37.69 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,200 | $30.87 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $50,240 | $24.16 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $32,980 | $15.86 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $99,540 a year, or $47.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $120,710 a year. The top 25% earn $116,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,430 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $66,410 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 180 crane and tower operators are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.