Crane and Tower Operators salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Crane and Tower Operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $79,720 a year ($38.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,080 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $79,570. There are 0.14 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $82,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,320 | $32.37 |
| 25th percentile | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| Median | $79,720 | $38.33 |
| 75th percentile | $79,790 | $38.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,080 | $59.66 |
| Average (mean) | $82,580 | $39.70 |
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 | $6,643.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,321.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,066.15 |
| Weekly | $1,533.08 |
| Hourly | $38.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,720 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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,490 | 590 |
| 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,320 | $20.83 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $69,300 | $33.32 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $53,980 | $25.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,590 | $29.13 |
| Parking Attendant | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $43,670 | $21.00 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $79,720 a year, or $38.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $124,080 a year. The top 25% earn $79,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,320 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $73,320 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 210 crane and tower operators are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.