Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,590 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Louisville earn between $48,360 and $89,660.
- $39K10th
- $48K25th
- $81KMedian
- $90K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,090 | $6,008 | $34.66 |
| Median | $80,850 | $6,738 | $38.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,360 | $4,030 | $23.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,660 | $7,472 | $43.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Louisville earn 13% more than the Kentucky average ($63,750) and about the same as the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $72,090 | $80,850 | $38,810 | $92,590 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $63,750 | $62,000 | $40,810 | $89,660 | 640 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $72,090, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $55,554 a year, or $4,629 a month and $2,137 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-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 | $57,413 | $4,784 |
| Working in KY | $55,554 | $4,629 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $72,090 buys what about $77,454 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Louisville: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Louisville?
$34.66 an hour on average, and $38.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Louisville?
About $55,554 a year ($4,629 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,090. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Louisville 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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