Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,760 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Chicago earn between $41,460 and $67,440.
- $40K10th
- $41K25th
- $56KMedian
- $67K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,560 | $5,213 | $30.08 |
| Median | $55,890 | $4,658 | $26.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,460 | $3,455 | $19.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,440 | $5,620 | $32.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Chicago earn 12% less than the Illinois average ($71,380) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $62,560 | $55,890 | $40,290 | $107,760 | 1,880 |
| Illinois | $71,380 | $61,820 | $41,470 | $131,280 | 1,220 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $62,560, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $49,491 a year, or $4,124 a month and $1,904 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $50,600 | $4,217 |
| Working in IL | $49,491 | $4,124 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $62,560 buys what about $60,389 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$62,560
- Rockford$51,430
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 Chicago: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Chicago?
$30.08 an hour on average, and $26.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $49,491 a year ($4,124 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,560.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Chicago 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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