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SOC 53-7021·Transportation & Material MovingGood pay · growing
Crane and Tower Operators
Median wage
$112,676
10-yr outlook
+2.7%by 2032
Openings / year
123
Workers in NY
1,330
How pay grows with experience
Crane and Tower Operators — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $71,244 |
| Median (typical) | $112,676 |
| Experienced | $186,794 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Crane and Tower Operators — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Long Island | $145,426 |
| Hudson Valley | $145,409 |
| Capital Region | $100,472 |
| Mohawk Valley | $98,507 |
| Central New York | $93,818 |
| New York City | $87,419 |
| Western New York | $73,925 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
A realistic next step
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Transportation & Material Moving) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Transportation & Material Moving) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Locomotive Engineers$109,898 median (−$2,778) · +1.3% by 2032
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$106,027 median (−$6,649) · +4.1% by 2032
- Transportation Inspectors$93,366 median (−$19,310) · +18.5% by 2032
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$84,428 median (−$28,248) · +17.8% by 2032
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$79,948 median (−$32,728) · +11.8% by 2032
- Traffic Technicians$71,628 median (−$41,048) · +19.8% by 2032
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