Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Sioux Falls
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,380 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Sioux Falls earn between $60,710 and $71,580.
- $47K10th
- $61K25th
- $64KMedian
- $72K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,170 | $5,431 | $31.33 |
| Median | $63,960 | $5,330 | $30.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,710 | $5,059 | $29.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,580 | $5,965 | $34.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Sioux Falls vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Sioux Falls earn 8% less than the South Dakota average ($70,560) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $65,170 | $63,960 | $46,740 | $72,380 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $70,560 | $71,000 | $58,370 | $93,600 | 120 |
| 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 Sioux Falls
On the average salary of $65,170, a single filer in Sioux Falls takes home about $54,544 a year, or $4,545 a month and $2,098 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SD | $54,544 | $4,545 |
| Working in MN | $51,636 | $4,303 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Sioux Falls a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sioux Falls area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.6), so the average $65,170 buys what about $71,907 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Sioux Falls ($47,970). A typical home costs $342,936, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Omaha, NE$66,250
- St. Cloud, MN$67,740
- Lincoln, NE$75,610
- Des Moines, IA$72,200
- Minneapolis, MN$92,950
- Waterloo, IA$64,450
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 Sioux Falls: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Sioux Falls?
$31.33 an hour on average, and $30.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Sioux Falls?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Sioux Falls?
About $54,544 a year ($4,545 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,170. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Sioux Falls 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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN (43620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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