Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Dubuque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,350 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Dubuque earn between $49,720 and $49,720.
- $50K10th
- $50K25th
- $50KMedian
- $50K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,070 | $4,506 | $26.00 |
| Median | $49,720 | $4,143 | $23.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,720 | $4,143 | $23.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,720 | $4,143 | $23.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Dubuque vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Dubuque earn 20% less than the Iowa average ($67,390) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | $54,070 | $49,720 | $49,720 | $72,350 | n/a |
| Iowa | $67,390 | $67,600 | $47,480 | $83,650 | 650 |
| 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 Dubuque
On the average salary of $54,070, a single filer in Dubuque takes home about $44,182 a year, or $3,682 a month and $1,699 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Dubuque a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dubuque area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.3), so the average $54,070 buys what about $61,916 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Dubuque ($48,750). A typical home costs $279,463, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Iowa cities
Dubuque ranks 4th of 4 Iowa metro areas for this job; Des Moines pays the most ($72,200).
- Des Moines$72,200
- Davenport$68,170
- Waterloo$64,450
- Dubuque$54,070
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 Dubuque: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Dubuque?
$26.00 an hour on average, and $23.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Dubuque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Dubuque?
About $44,182 a year ($3,682 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,070. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Dubuque than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Dubuque, IA (20220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
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