Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,560 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Nashville earn between $46,840 and $84,090.
- $45K10th
- $47K25th
- $77KMedian
- $84K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,450 | $5,704 | $32.91 |
| Median | $76,750 | $6,396 | $36.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,840 | $3,903 | $22.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,090 | $7,008 | $40.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Nashville earn 8% more than the Tennessee average ($63,250) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $68,450 | $76,750 | $44,980 | $86,560 | 210 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $68,450, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $56,985 a year, or $4,749 a month and $2,192 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $68,450 buys what about $71,052 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Nashville$68,450
- Jackson$60,660
- Knoxville$59,930
- Memphis$59,310
- Chattanooga$54,140
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 Nashville: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Nashville?
$32.91 an hour on average, and $36.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Nashville?
About $56,985 a year ($4,749 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,450. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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