Did you know over 36,000 crane operators are working in the US? Crane operators are important in supporting operations at construction sites, mining projects, and docks. Are you wondering how much do crane operators make? This article will examine the salary of a crane operator and the crane operator insurance you need to boost income.
As their name suggests, crane operators are experts at utilizing cranes to manipulate large objects at a construction site. Cranes are used to move heavy materials to high levels that are ordinarily difficult to transport. A crane operator's responsibilities include:
Repairing the crane
Performing inspections
Moving materials and equipment around a construction site
Checking pressure levels on hydraulic machinery
Putting together a tower crane
Performing maintenance on a crane
Maintaining safety standards of the crane
Operating the crane
Many states will require that crane operators be licensed. Getting a license involves undergoing a training period and taking a course to prepare you for the job. Experienced crane operators offer apprenticeships where you can learn while you work. You do not need a college degree to apply to be licensed and certified as a crane operator, a high school education will suffice. The certification process can be quick and may only take a few weeks.
Since crane operators often work on construction projects, they must travel for work. They are a highly demanded construction job with growth opportunities. Crane operators use three main types of cranes, which include: boom trucks, mobile cranes, and mobile cranes.
Boom truck cranes are cranes mounted to trucks. Typically a hydraulic train is affixed to a truck to take advantage of the vehicle's mobility. With a boom truck, a crane operator can easily reposition the crane and move it to different job sites. These boom trucks must be heavy-duty vehicles to support strenuous loads. They are still popular with construction contractors for their mobility and flexibility. Typically boom trucks can support weights between 10 and 60 tons.
Similar to boom trucks, mobile cranes also enjoy the flexibility of being moveable. However, mobile cranes are attached to crawlers that do not enjoy easy transport on roadways like a boom truck does.
A tower crane is more stationary than the other types of cranes, but it can move along rails. They are tall, reaching heights of up to 265 feet, and can lift 18 or more tons. Tower cranes have a sturdy support base that is carefully attached to concrete pads that ensure it can support its operations. Despite having less mobility, it can still rotate and has a counterweight to help it carry heavy loads.
Are you interested in learning how much do crane operators make a year? Crane operators make an average of $54,275 per year. The likely range of annual salaries you will make as a crane operator is between $35,000 and $83,000. The amount you make as a crane operator will vary by location and industry you operate in. Your salary will also change based on the amount of experience you have as a crane operator.
| Percentile | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,000 |
| 20th | $41,000 |
| 30th | $47,000 |
| 40th | $54,275 |
| 50th | $59,000 |
| 60th | $65,000 |
| 70th | $71,000 |
| 80th | $77,000 |
| 90th | $83,000 |
Are you wondering how much do crane operators get paid per month? Crane operators make $4,522 per month on average. The monthly wage of crane operators typically varies between $2,916 and $6,916. Wages will vary based on the location you are working in and your level of crane operating experience.
| Percentile | Average Monthly Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $2,916 |
| 20th | $3,416 |
| 30th | $3,916 |
| 40th | $4,522 |
| 50th | $4,916 |
| 60th | $5,416 |
| 70th | $5,916 |
| 80th | $6,416 |
| 90th | $6,916 |
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Do you want to know how much money do crane operators make bi-weekly? You can expect to make $2,086 bi-weekly as a crane operator. Typical bi-weekly wages for crane operators will range between $1,346 and $3,192.
| Percentile | Average Bi-Weekly Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $1,346 |
| 20th | $1,576 |
| 30th | $1,816 |
| 40th | $2,086 |
| 50th | $2,268 |
| 60th | $2,500 |
| 70th | $2,730 |
| 80th | $2,960 |
| 90th | $3,192 |
Are you wondering how much do crane operators make per week? Your average weekly wage as a crane operator will be $1,043. Weekly wages for crane operators typically range between $673 and $1,596. See the table below for the average weekly wage compared to the earnings of workers at each percentile.
| Percentile | Average Weekly Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $673 |
| 20th | $788 |
| 30th | $908 |
| 40th | $1,043 |
| 50th | $1,134 |
| 60th | $1,250 |
| 70th | $1,365 |
| 80th | $1,480 |
| 90th | $1,596 |
Do you want to know how much do crane operators earn per day? The daily wage of a crane operator is $208 on average, assuming a 5-day work week. As a crane operator, your daily wage will typically range between $134 and $319.
| Percentile | Average Daily Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $134 |
| 20th | $157 |
| 30th | $181 |
| 40th | $208 |
| 50th | $227 |
| 60th | $250 |
| 70th | $273 |
| 80th | $296 |
| 90th | $319 |
Are you interested in learning how much do crane operators make an hour? The average hourly wage for crane operators is $26.09. As a crane operator, your hourly rate ranges between $16.82 and $39.09.
| Percentile | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| 10th | $16.82 |
| 20th | $19.71 |
| 30th | $22.60 |
| 40th | $26.09 |
| 50th | $28.37 |
| 60th | $31.25 |
| 70th | $34.13 |
| 80th | $37.01 |
| 90th | $39.09 |
Do you want to know how much do crane operators earn by state? The top state for crane operators is New Jersey. In New Jersey, you will have an average annual salary of $59,726 as a crane operator. Below is a comparison of what you can expect to make in each state.
| State | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,731 | $17.97 |
| Alaska | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| Arizona | $59,964 | $28.83 |
| Arkansas | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| California | $70,663 | $33.97 |
| Colorado | $57,295 | $27.55 |
| Connecticut | $50,260 | $24.34 |
| Delaware | $51,029 | $24.53 |
| Florida | $47,131 | $22.66 |
| Georgia | $47,975 | $23.06 |
| Hawaii | $48,183 | $23.16 |
| Idaho | $47,613 | $22.89 |
| Illinois | $39,675 | $19.07 |
| Indiana | $50,831 | $24.44 |
| Iowa | $56,069 | $26.96 |
| Kansas | $37,795 | $18.17 |
| Kentucky | $38,372 | $18.45 |
| Louisiana | $51,952 | $24.98 |
| Maine | $47,232 | $22.71 |
| Maryland | $56,055 | $26.95 |
| Massachusetts | $48,181 | $23.16 |
| Michigan | $40,904 | $19.67 |
| Minnesota | $47,814 | $22.99 |
| Mississippi | $48,895 | $23.99 |
| Missouri | $43,303 | $20.82 |
| Montana | $49,738 | $23.91 |
| Nebraska | $49,372 | $23.74 |
| Nevada | $45,812 | $22.02 |
| New Hampshire | $46,643 | $22.42 |
| New Jersey | $59,726 | $28.71 |
| New Mexico | $47,892 | $23.02 |
| New York | $70,189 | $33.74 |
| North Carolina | $45,909 | $22.07 |
| North Dakota | $52,418 | $25.20 |
| Ohio | $44,467 | $21.38 |
| Oklahoma | $48,848 | $23.48 |
| Oregon | $53,343 | $25.65 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,851 | $20.60 |
| Rhode Island | $49,244 | $23.68 |
| South Carolina | $48,442 | $23.29 |
| South Dakota | $49,152 | $23.63 |
| Tennessee | $46,103 | $22.16 |
| Texas | $48,217 | $23.18 |
| Utah | $52,935 | $25.45 |
| Vermont | $44,542 | $21.41 |
| Virginia | $55,557 | $26.71 |
| Washington | $75,464 | $36.28 |
| West Virginia | $58,230 | $28.00 |
| Wisconsin | $45,707 | $21.97 |
| Wyoming | $46,511 | $22.36 |
Are you interested in which cities, on average, pay crane operators the most? The top city, Vancouver, Washington, pays crane operators $76,648 on average. See the chart below to see which other cities pay crane operators well.
| City | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Washington | $76,648 | $36.85 |
| New York, New York | $70,448 | $33.87 |
| San Diego, California | $68,424 | $32.90 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $60,063 | $28.88 |
| Denver, Colorado | $57,230 | $27.51 |
| Norfolk, Virginia | $55,427 | $26.65 |
| Beaverton, Oregon | $53,247 | $25.60 |
| Grand Fork, North Dakota | $42,594 | $25.29 |
| Baton Rouge, Lousiana | $52,059 | $25.03 |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | $50,434 | $24.25 |
How much do crane operators get paid at the entry level? On average, you will make $35,000 per year as an entry-level crane operator with 0-2 years of experience. You will make $2,916 per month and $673 per week on average. Entry-level crane operators work for an average hourly rate of $16.82. You can expect your average daily pay to be $134.
Do you want to know how much money do crane operators make at the mid-level? If you are a mid-level crane operator, you have 3-6 years of experience. At this level, you will make $54,275 per year on average. Your monthly wage as a mid-level crane operator will be $4,522, and you will make an average wage of $1,043 weekly. Your income will average out at a rate of $208 per day and $26 per hour.
Senior-level crane operators have between 7-12 years of experience. At the senior level, you can expect an average salary of $61,921 annually. Your monthly wage will be $5,160, and your weekly wage will be $1,178. Senior-level crane operators will make $235 daily and work at an average hourly rate of $29.
Getting the right insurance coverage is crucial for protecting and boosting your business income. Without insurance coverage, your crane operating business can be left footing the bill for an expensive lawsuit or damage to your property. The following policies are recommended to avoid high financial costs and protect your business in the future.
A business owner’s policy combines general liability coverage and commercial property insurance. For this reason, it is considered a more comprehensive insurance option that can save you money. NEXT is our top choice for a business owner’s policy.
Their business owner's policy features the same coverage as their general liability policy. This means you aren’t missing out on coverage by taking on a business owner’s policy. Their business owner’s policy saves you money compared to buying the coverage it contains in separate policies.
NEXT promises quotes for your crane operator business in 10 minutes or less. You save 10% or more on business insurance when bundling with them. They boast a 4.7/5 rating in their customer reviews. NEXT has an A- rating with AM Best.
General liability insurance protects your crane operating business from third-party claims. Typically it covers claims related to bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury. If you accidentally damage property or a person is injured by your crane operating, this policy will protect you.
Thimble is our recommended pick for this insurance coverage. They provide resources to help you understand your policy options and feature a quick-buying process. You can have your coverage within hours of filling out your insurance form. They offer short-term general liability coverage. This means you can get covered for a customized policy duration that you set down to the month, day, or hour. Thimble has an A+ from the Better Business Bureau.
Professional liability insurance protects your business from the consequences of errors, oversights, and other mistakes. This policy helps you pay legal fees and court costs from negligence, copyright infringement, and libel lawsuits. For this insurance policy, we recommend Hiscox.
They have a trusted service award from Feefo. Their policies are discounted when bundled together, and you get a 14-day refund window if you are unsatisfied. Thanks to these advantages, you can shop policies at Hiscox with less stress.
Their professional liability insurance policy extends coverage outside of the US. Their service agents are standing by to deliver a personalized experience. Hiscox excels at providing tailored policies to small and medium-sized businesses. Hiscox has an A rating from AM Best.
Commercial property insurance is essential for crane operators because it protects your business property from damaging events. The events covered include:
Theft
Fire
Vandalism
Wind damage
Water damage
Explosions
CoverWallet is our top choice for commercial property insurance. They offer a selection of over ten highly-rated insurance partners to choose from. You can fill out an insurance form asking detailed questions to apply for a policy. If you are in a hurry, you can skip the form and call them for help. Their handy app contains an insurance policy dashboard that simplifies tracking policies and claims. CoverWallet has an A+ from the Better Business Bureau.
Commercial auto insurance protects your business against the liabilities of vehicle accidents. Most states require all operating vehicles on roadways to have an insurance policy. This insurance also protects your vehicles from damage or being totaled. Tivly is our recommended option for commercial auto insurance. They have over 200 insurance partners to choose from. You can pick policies with options like gap coverage, personal injury protection, uninsured motorist coverage, and more.
With Tivly, you don't apply for quotes online but through a quick phone call. Tivly boasts a quick 4-second phone answering rate. With such a quick response time, your future policy is never far away. Tivly makes it easy to update your policy as your business needs change. One downside of Tivly is that they don't yet have a mobile app. Tivly has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. They have an A rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Workers’ compensation insurance is required in most states for crane operator businesses with employees. It protects your workers by paying for medical treatments when they get hurt or sick.
A workers’ compensation policy also provides supplemental income when employees cannot work or have to reduce their hours due to an injury. The Hartford is an excellent pick for your workers' compensation insurance policy. They are a long-standing insurer with over 200 years of insurance underwriting experience.
The company stands out for its plethora of features. The Hartford give your employees access to over 65,000 pharmacies nationwide. They also employ nurse case managers that ensure your employees are getting proper care at every point of their recovery process. The Hartford’s policies offer benefits to AARP members.
They have a mobile app and have served over one million small businesses. This company was named one of the most ethical companies by Ethisphere. The Hartford has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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1 / 5
Use anyone except Employers. Period. They are non-transparent and shameful. After I complained long enough to warrant a call from a supervisor, the supervisor called back from a PRIVATE NUMBER (no caller ID), left a message that they are not reversing their decision (without any communication with me), and failed to leave a phone number for me to call back. She was hiding! They also fact find via email and phone calls, which is terrific for speed and communication. However, after setting a precedence of email or phone calls, they send time sensitive information via email, without any heads up... they are hoping you miss it and forfeit via expiration. Evil policies. Go elsewhere.
1 / 5
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
1 / 5
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
5 / 5
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
5 / 5
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
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