Crane and Tower Operators pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,150 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in New Orleans earn between $55,690 and $78,450.
- $49K10th
- $56K25th
- $65KMedian
- $78K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,120 | $5,593 | $32.27 |
| Median | $65,490 | $5,458 | $31.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,690 | $4,641 | $26.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,450 | $6,538 | $37.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in New Orleans earn 6% more than the Louisiana average ($63,380) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $67,120 | $65,490 | $49,050 | $84,150 | 420 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $67,120, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $54,422 a year, or $4,535 a month and $2,093 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $67,120 buys what about $72,486 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 3rd 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 New Orleans: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in New Orleans?
$32.27 an hour on average, and $31.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $54,422 a year ($4,535 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,120.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 3.43, this job is 3.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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