Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Minneapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,710 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Minneapolis earn between $66,410 and $116,660.
- $53K10th
- $66K25th
- $100KMedian
- $117K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,950 | $7,746 | $44.69 |
| Median | $99,540 | $8,295 | $47.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,410 | $5,534 | $31.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $116,660 | $9,722 | $56.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Minneapolis vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Minneapolis earn 9% more than the Minnesota average ($85,490) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +46% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $92,950 | $99,540 | $53,430 | $120,710 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $85,490 | $80,930 | $52,590 | $116,890 | 370 |
| 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 Minneapolis
On the average salary of $92,950, a single filer in Minneapolis takes home about $69,423 a year, or $5,785 a month and $2,670 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $70,211 | $5,851 |
| Working in MN | $69,423 | $5,785 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Minneapolis a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Minneapolis area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.8), so the average $92,950 buys what about $88,674 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Minneapolis ($59,320). A typical home costs $393,774, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis ranks 1st of 3 Minnesota 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 Minneapolis: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Minneapolis?
$44.69 an hour on average, and $47.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Minneapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Minneapolis?
About $69,423 a year ($5,785 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,950. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Minneapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (33460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.34, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.34).
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