Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $104,420 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Milwaukee earn between $48,980 and $75,500.
- $47K10th
- $49K25th
- $59KMedian
- $76K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,620 | $5,468 | $31.55 |
| Median | $59,430 | $4,952 | $28.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,980 | $4,082 | $23.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,500 | $6,292 | $36.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Milwaukee earn 10% less than the Wisconsin average ($72,660) and 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $65,620 | $59,430 | $46,560 | $104,420 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $72,660 | $67,720 | $48,980 | $104,420 | 440 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $65,620, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $52,519 a year, or $4,377 a month and $2,020 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $65,620 buys what about $67,693 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 2nd of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Green Bay pays the most ($73,180).
- Green Bay$73,180
- Milwaukee$65,620
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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Milwaukee?
$31.55 an hour on average, and $28.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $52,519 a year ($4,377 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,620.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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