Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,090 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Portland earn between $65,690 and $79,820.
- $60K10th
- $66K25th
- $75KMedian
- $80K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,520 | $6,210 | $35.83 |
| Median | $74,650 | $6,221 | $35.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,690 | $5,474 | $31.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,820 | $6,652 | $38.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Portland earn 12% more than the Maine average ($66,340) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $74,520 | $74,650 | $60,020 | $95,090 | 170 |
| Maine | $66,340 | $65,690 | $45,310 | $90,730 | 360 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $74,520, a single filer in Portland takes home about $57,903 a year, or $4,825 a month and $2,227 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $74,520 buys what about $73,161 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Maine 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 Portland: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Portland?
$35.83 an hour on average, and $35.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Portland?
About $57,903 a year ($4,825 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,520. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.15, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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