Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Kansas City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,760 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Kansas City earn between $58,450 and $95,670.
- $41K10th
- $58K25th
- $81KMedian
- $96K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,660 | $6,388 | $36.86 |
| Median | $81,150 | $6,762 | $39.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,450 | $4,871 | $28.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,670 | $7,972 | $46.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Kansas City vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Kansas City earn 20% more than the Missouri average ($63,850) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $76,660 | $81,150 | $40,710 | $95,760 | 330 |
| Missouri | $63,850 | $58,450 | $40,680 | $95,580 | 630 |
| 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 Kansas City
On the average salary of $76,660, a single filer in Kansas City takes home about $59,328 a year, or $4,944 a month and $2,282 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MO | $59,328 | $4,944 |
| Working in KS | $59,282 | $4,940 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Kansas City's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Kansas City a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Kansas City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $76,660 buys what about $82,837 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Kansas City ($50,820). A typical home costs $329,641, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Missouri cities
Kansas City ranks 1st of 2 Missouri metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Kansas City$76,660
- St. Louis$63,230
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 Kansas City: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Kansas City?
$36.86 an hour on average, and $39.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Kansas City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Kansas City?
About $59,328 a year ($4,944 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,660. Includes Kansas City's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Kansas City than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Kansas City, MO-KS (28140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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). Includes Kansas City's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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