Crane and Tower Operators salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Crane and Tower Operators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $71,400 a year ($34.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,400 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $68,080. Pay here is 7% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $66,600. There are 0.56 crane and tower operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $71,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for crane and tower operators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,430 | $25.69 |
| 25th percentile | $66,600 | $32.02 |
| Median | $71,400 | $34.33 |
| 75th percentile | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Average (mean) | $71,430 | $34.34 |
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 | $5,950 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,975 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,746.15 |
| Weekly | $1,373.08 |
| Hourly | $34.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $71,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,120 | 410 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $73,710 | 40 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $73,420 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $72,520 | 170 |
| Wilmington, NC | $68,670 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $67,280 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $64,730 | 80 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $63,480 | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,300 | 300 |
| Richmond, VA | $61,180 | 170 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,540 | 40 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $32,700 | $15.72 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $62,730 | $30.16 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $66,920 | $32.18 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,460 | $24.26 |
| Light Truck Driver | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,140 | $29.39 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $48,210 | $23.18 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for crane and tower operators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $71,400 a year, or $34.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid crane and tower operators make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of crane and tower operators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $87,400 a year. The top 25% earn $77,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for crane and tower operators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,430 a year, and a quarter of crane and tower operators earn $66,600 or less.
How many crane and tower operators work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 430 crane and tower operators are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.