Crane and Tower Operators salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Crane and Tower Operators in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median of $65,490 a year ($31.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,150 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 7% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $61,170. There are 0.94 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| 25th percentile | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Median | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| 75th percentile | $78,450 | $37.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,150 | $40.46 |
| Average (mean) | $67,120 | $32.27 |
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 | $5,457.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,728.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,518.85 |
| Weekly | $1,259.42 |
| Hourly | $31.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $65,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $80,700 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $66,680 | 560 |
| Lafayette, LA | $58,780 | 100 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $57,230 | 300 |
| Monroe, LA | $55,770 | 40 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $48,060 | 120 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $28,560 | $13.73 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $28,120 | $13.52 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| Dredge Operator | $49,390 | $23.74 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,940 | $21.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $121,710 | $58.51 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $65,490 a year, or $31.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn at least $84,150 a year. The top 25% earn $78,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,050 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $55,690 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About 420 crane and tower operators are employed in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.