Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Elkhart
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,140 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Elkhart earn between $48,170 and $55,120.
- $44K10th
- $48K25th
- $51KMedian
- $55K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,730 | $4,811 | $27.75 |
| Median | $50,550 | $4,212 | $24.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,170 | $4,014 | $23.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,120 | $4,593 | $26.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Elkhart vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Elkhart earn about the same as the Indiana average ($57,330) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $57,730 | $50,550 | $43,510 | $97,140 | 40 |
| Indiana | $57,330 | $52,950 | $38,830 | $87,640 | 2,300 |
| 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 Elkhart
On the average salary of $57,730, a single filer in Elkhart takes home about $45,730 a year, or $3,811 a month and $1,759 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Elkhart's local income tax (2%).
Is Elkhart a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Elkhart area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.3), so the average $57,730 buys what about $63,914 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Elkhart ($48,070). A typical home costs $265,734, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Indiana cities
Elkhart ranks 3rd of 4 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($69,240).
- Indianapolis$69,240
- Evansville$66,530
- Elkhart$57,730
- South Bend$55,660
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 Elkhart: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Elkhart?
$27.76 an hour on average, and $24.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Elkhart?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Elkhart?
About $45,730 a year ($3,811 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,730. Includes Elkhart's local income tax (2%).
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Elkhart than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN (21140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.7%.
- 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). Includes Elkhart's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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