Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,320 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Raleigh earn between $60,540 and $84,280.
- $55K10th
- $61K25th
- $73KMedian
- $84K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,700 | $6,058 | $34.95 |
| Median | $72,520 | $6,043 | $34.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,540 | $5,045 | $29.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,280 | $7,023 | $40.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Raleigh earn 11% more than the North Carolina average ($65,620) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $72,700 | $72,520 | $54,760 | $91,320 | 170 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $72,700, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $57,582 a year, or $4,799 a month and $2,215 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $72,700 buys what about $74,065 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 1st of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Raleigh?
$34.95 an hour on average, and $34.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $57,582 a year ($4,799 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,700.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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