Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,160 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Birmingham earn between $38,090 and $60,880.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $48KMedian
- $61K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,740 | $4,395 | $25.36 |
| Median | $47,620 | $3,968 | $22.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,090 | $3,174 | $18.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,880 | $5,073 | $29.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Birmingham earn 14% less than the Alabama average ($61,170) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $52,740 | $47,620 | $37,400 | $76,160 | 310 |
| Alabama | $61,170 | $60,790 | $37,650 | $99,380 | 1,280 |
| United States | $72,130 | $68,080 | $42,640 | $103,570 | 42,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Crane and Tower Operators salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $52,740, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $42,367 a year, or $3,531 a month and $1,630 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $52,740 buys what about $57,549 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 5th of 6 Alabama metro areas for this job; Mobile pays the most ($73,280).
- Mobile$73,280
- Decatur$66,080
- Anniston$54,850
- Tuscaloosa$52,760
- Birmingham$52,740
- Montgomery$49,060
Highest-paying cities for crane and tower operators
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,530).
- Honolulu, HI$118,530
- New York, NY$116,710
- Las Vegas, NV$115,300
- Kennewick, WA$111,710
- Buffalo, NY$109,610
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Crane and Tower Operators salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Birmingham?
$25.35 an hour on average, and $22.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $42,367 a year ($3,531 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,740. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,130).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-7021; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.15, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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