Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,370 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Lafayette earn between $49,610 and $69,100.
- $44K10th
- $50K25th
- $59KMedian
- $69K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,630 | $4,969 | $28.67 |
| Median | $58,780 | $4,898 | $28.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,610 | $4,134 | $23.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,100 | $5,758 | $33.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Lafayette earn 6% less than the Louisiana average ($63,380) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $59,630 | $58,780 | $44,290 | $77,370 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $63,380 | $61,170 | $45,370 | $82,620 | 1,930 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $59,630, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $48,690 a year, or $4,058 a month and $1,873 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).
Is Lafayette a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $59,630 buys what about $68,376 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 4th of 7 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Slidell pays the most ($73,150).
- Slidell$73,150
- Baton Rouge$67,750
- New Orleans$67,120
- Lafayette$59,630
- Houma$57,980
- Monroe$56,180
- Shreveport$54,890
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Lafayette?
$28.67 an hour on average, and $28.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $48,690 a year ($4,058 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,630.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 2.00, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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