Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,150 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Lakeland earn between $49,700 and $74,580.
- $46K10th
- $50K25th
- $60KMedian
- $75K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,710 | $5,226 | $30.15 |
| Median | $60,010 | $5,001 | $28.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,700 | $4,142 | $23.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,580 | $6,215 | $35.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Lakeland earn 12% less than the Florida average ($71,460) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $62,710 | $60,010 | $45,560 | $80,150 | 80 |
| Florida | $71,460 | $71,560 | $47,840 | $94,170 | 2,570 |
| 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 Lakeland
On the average salary of $62,710, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $52,567 a year, or $4,381 a month and $2,022 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $62,710 buys what about $64,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 11th of 11 Florida metro areas for this job; Miami pays the most ($76,440).
- Miami$76,440
- Naples$76,000
- Tampa$76,000
- Palm Bay$72,210
- Fort Myers$71,830
- Orlando$70,270
- Panama City$70,270
- Sarasota$69,320
- Jacksonville$67,800
- Lakeland$62,710
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 Lakeland: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Lakeland?
$30.15 an hour on average, and $28.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $52,567 a year ($4,381 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,710. Florida has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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