Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,730 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Charlotte earn between $53,840 and $77,320.
- $50K10th
- $54K25th
- $63KMedian
- $77K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,610 | $5,384 | $31.06 |
| Median | $63,300 | $5,275 | $30.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,840 | $4,487 | $25.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,320 | $6,443 | $37.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Charlotte earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($65,620) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $64,610 | $63,300 | $50,410 | $82,730 | 300 |
| North Carolina | $65,620 | $64,480 | $46,530 | $82,730 | 1,050 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $64,610, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $52,025 a year, or $4,335 a month and $2,001 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $52,126 | $4,344 |
| Working in NC | $52,025 | $4,335 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $64,610 buys what about $66,370 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 6th of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($72,700).
- Raleigh$72,700
- Rocky Mount$72,270
- Durham$70,350
- Wilmington$69,620
- Winston-Salem$64,990
- Charlotte$64,610
- Greensboro$64,280
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Charlotte?
$31.06 an hour on average, and $30.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $52,025 a year ($4,335 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,610.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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