Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,550 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Tucson earn between $58,120 and $75,540.
- $55K10th
- $58K25th
- $65KMedian
- $76K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,400 | $5,700 | $32.88 |
| Median | $64,750 | $5,396 | $31.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,120 | $4,843 | $27.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,540 | $6,295 | $36.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Tucson earn about the same as the Arizona average ($70,260) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $68,400 | $64,750 | $54,530 | $87,550 | 100 |
| Arizona | $70,260 | $67,350 | $50,930 | $87,990 | 930 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $68,400, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $55,633 a year, or $4,636 a month and $2,140 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $68,400 buys what about $70,591 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 3rd of 3 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($70,860).
- Phoenix$70,860
- Prescott Valley$69,210
- Tucson$68,400
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 Tucson: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Tucson?
$32.88 an hour on average, and $31.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Tucson?
About $55,633 a year ($4,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,400.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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