Crane and Tower Operators Salary in California (2025)

Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 2,130 employed

Annual Mean

$87,030

$41.84/hr

Annual Median

$79,570

$38.25/hr

Bottom 10%

$50,550

$24.30/hr

Top 10%

$135,820

$65.30/hr

Location vs National Average

California

$87,030

Difference

+20.7% vs US avg

US National

$72,130

Salary Percentile Breakdown

Percentile	Annual	Hourly
10th Percentile Bottom 10%	$50,550	$24.30/hr
25th Percentile Lower quarter	$66,620	$32.03/hr
50th PercentileMedian Median	$79,570	$38.25/hr
75th Percentile Upper quarter	$100,860	$48.49/hr
90th Percentile Top 10%	$135,820	$65.30/hr

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$51K

25th

$67K

Median

$80K

75th

$101K

90th

$136K

California has a moderate number of Crane and Tower Operators positions (approximately 2,130), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.

In California, Crane and Tower Operators salaries range from $50,550 at the 10th percentile to $135,820 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $85,270 (107% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.

Top Paying Cities in California

Metro areas with highest Crane and Tower Operators wages

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$104,910

per year

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

$82,580

per year

Bakersfield-Delano, CA

$76,190

per year

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA

$75,900

per year

How Crane and Tower Operators Compares in California

The average Crane and Tower Operators salary of $87,030 in California ranks above the national average of $72,130. There are approximately 2,130 Crane and Tower Operatorss employed in California.