Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,940 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Chattanooga earn between $42,600 and $67,850.
- $39K10th
- $43K25th
- $45KMedian
- $68K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,140 | $4,512 | $26.03 |
| Median | $45,280 | $3,773 | $21.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,600 | $3,550 | $20.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,850 | $5,654 | $32.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Chattanooga earn 14% less than the Tennessee average ($63,250) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -33% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $54,140 | $45,280 | $38,740 | $77,940 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $63,250 | $59,410 | $40,890 | $84,090 | 660 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $54,140, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $45,681 a year, or $3,807 a month and $1,757 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $45,681 | $3,807 |
| Working in GA | $43,728 | $3,644 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $54,140 buys what about $59,193 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($68,450).
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$26.03 an hour on average, and $21.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $45,681 a year ($3,807 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,140. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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