Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,030 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Waco earn between $50,680 and $74,450.
- $34K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $74K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,070 | $5,256 | $30.32 |
| Median | $61,350 | $5,112 | $29.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,680 | $4,223 | $24.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,450 | $6,204 | $35.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Waco earn 9% less than the Texas average ($69,650) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $63,070 | $61,350 | $34,190 | $94,030 | 50 |
| 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 Waco
On the average salary of $63,070, a single filer in Waco takes home about $52,857 a year, or $4,405 a month and $2,033 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Waco a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $63,070 buys what about $68,147 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 11th 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
- Waco$63,070
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 Waco: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Waco?
$30.32 an hour on average, and $29.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Waco?
About $52,857 a year ($4,405 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,070. Texas has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Waco than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Waco, TX (47380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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