Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Austin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,560 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Austin earn between $61,370 and $88,900.
- $48K10th
- $61K25th
- $75KMedian
- $89K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,370 | $6,198 | $35.75 |
| Median | $75,360 | $6,280 | $36.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,370 | $5,114 | $29.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,900 | $7,408 | $42.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Austin vs. Texas and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Austin earn 7% more than the Texas average ($69,650) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $74,370 | $75,360 | $47,750 | $99,560 | 230 |
| Texas | $69,650 | $73,280 | $42,790 | $93,390 | 6,010 |
| 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 Austin
On the average salary of $74,370, a single filer in Austin takes home about $61,149 a year, or $5,096 a month and $2,352 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Austin a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Austin area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.1), so the average $74,370 buys what about $75,837 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Austin ($56,950). A typical home costs $428,524, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Texas cities
Austin ranks 2nd of 17 Texas metro areas for this job; Midland pays the most ($78,410).
- Midland$78,410
- Austin$74,370
- Odessa$74,020
- Corpus Christi$71,520
- Houston$70,810
- Dallas$69,630
- Beaumont$68,190
- Killeen$68,080
- San Antonio$67,520
- College Station$63,980
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 Austin: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Austin?
$35.76 an hour on average, and $36.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Austin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Austin?
About $61,149 a year ($5,096 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,370. Texas has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Austin than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (12420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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