Crane and Tower Operators pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,080 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in San Diego earn between $73,320 and $79,790.
- $67K10th
- $73K25th
- $80KMedian
- $80K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,580 | $6,882 | $39.70 |
| Median | $79,720 | $6,643 | $38.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,320 | $6,110 | $35.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,790 | $6,649 | $38.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($87,030) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $82,580 | $79,720 | $67,320 | $124,080 | 210 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $82,580, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $63,337 a year, or $5,278 a month and $2,436 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 San Diego a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $82,580 buys what about $73,807 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 6th 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
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Crane and Tower Operators salary in San Diego: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in San Diego?
$39.70 an hour on average, and $38.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in San Diego?
About $63,337 a year ($5,278 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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