Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Fresno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,650 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Fresno earn between $72,940 and $130,120.
- $65K10th
- $73K25th
- $77KMedian
- $130K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,850 | $7,654 | $44.16 |
| Median | $77,330 | $6,444 | $37.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,940 | $6,078 | $35.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,120 | $10,843 | $62.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Fresno vs. California and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Fresno earn 6% more than the California average ($87,030) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $91,850 | $77,330 | $64,510 | $134,650 | 50 |
| California | $87,030 | $79,570 | $50,550 | $135,820 | 2,130 |
| 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 Fresno
On the average salary of $91,850, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $68,996 a year, or $5,750 a month and $2,654 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Fresno a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $91,850 buys what about $89,910 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other California cities
Fresno ranks 3rd of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($104,910).
- San Francisco$104,910
- Los Angeles$94,960
- Fresno$91,850
- Vallejo$84,000
- Stockton$83,410
- San Diego$82,580
- Bakersfield$76,190
- Oxnard$75,900
- Riverside$73,680
- Sacramento$69,400
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Crane and Tower Operators salary in Fresno: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Fresno?
$44.16 an hour on average, and $37.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Fresno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Fresno?
About $68,996 a year ($5,750 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,850. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Fresno than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more 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 Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.41, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.41).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.