Skilled Trades
Crane and Tower Operators
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Median salary (BLS)
$68,080
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$43k – $104k
Job outlook
+3% (about average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Crane and Tower Operators
Education
Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Crane and Tower Operators
Entry / Junior
$42,640
~2 yrs to advance
Crane and Tower Operators
Established
$68,080
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Crane and Tower Operators
Senior
$85,825
Key skills
A typical day
- •Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- •Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- •Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- •Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- •Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.