Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Wichita
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,500 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Wichita earn between $60,500 and $78,410.
- $60K10th
- $60K25th
- $78KMedian
- $78K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,400 | $6,033 | $34.81 |
| Median | $78,180 | $6,515 | $37.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,500 | $5,042 | $29.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,410 | $6,534 | $37.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Wichita vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Wichita earn about the same as the Kansas average ($73,110) and about the same as the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $72,400 | $78,180 | $60,320 | $87,500 | 340 |
| Kansas | $73,110 | $77,100 | $49,840 | $99,500 | 780 |
| 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 Wichita
On the average salary of $72,400, a single filer in Wichita takes home about $56,523 a year, or $4,710 a month and $2,174 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wichita a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wichita area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.9), so the average $72,400 buys what about $81,398 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Wichita ($47,630). A typical home costs $225,557, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Tulsa, OK$70,390
- Oklahoma City, OK$62,990
- Kansas City, MO$76,660
- Fayetteville, AR$52,930
- Fort Smith, AR$49,450
- Lincoln, NE$75,610
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 Wichita: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Wichita?
$34.81 an hour on average, and $37.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Wichita?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Wichita?
About $56,523 a year ($4,710 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,400.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Wichita than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Wichita, KS (48620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.00, this job is 4.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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