Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,790 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Boston earn between $74,420 and $129,790.
- $59K10th
- $74K25th
- $98KMedian
- $130K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,830 | $8,152 | $47.03 |
| Median | $98,140 | $8,178 | $47.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,420 | $6,202 | $35.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,790 | $10,816 | $62.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($100,260) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +44% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $97,830 | $98,140 | $59,330 | $129,790 | 500 |
| Massachusetts | $100,260 | $98,150 | $59,860 | $129,790 | 680 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $97,830, a single filer in Boston takes home about $73,082 a year, or $6,090 a month and $2,811 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $77,653 | $6,471 |
| Working in MA | $73,082 | $6,090 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $97,830 buys what about $90,361 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 3 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Worcester pays the most ($109,460).
- Worcester$109,460
- Boston$97,830
- Springfield$92,490
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 Boston: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Boston?
$47.04 an hour on average, and $47.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Boston?
About $73,082 a year ($6,090 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,830. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.6%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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