11 of the Highest Paying Crane Operator Jobs in 2026

The best Crane Operator jobs can pay up to $81,500 per year.

High Paying Crane Operator Jobs

• Tower Crane Operator

  Salary range: $62,500 - $81,500

  A tower crane operator uses heavy equipment to lift and move construction materials and equipment around a job site. As a tower crane operator, you need specialized training in how to safely operate a crane. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers a 10-hour training program, and the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) provides tower crane certification. While operating your tower crane, you must follow established load limits for your heavy equipment, watch signalers to control crane movement, and communicate with your crew via radio.

• Gantry Crane Operator

  Salary range: $76,000 - $76,000

  A gantry crane is also known as a bridge crane or tower gantry crane. These cranes straddle the objects that they lift, and the design allows them to lift heavy loads. Your duties as a gantry crane operator involve controlling these cranes as they lift and release their loads. Your responsibilities include moving the crane into position and ensuring that the load is secure. Gantry crane operators usually work in shipping ports, but you can also find employment on construction sites, rail yards, and other industrial settings. New gantry crane operators undergo training and earn certification before they are allowed to operate independently.

• Bridge Crane Operator

  Salary range: $40,000 - $67,500

  The majority of Bridge Crane Operator salaries across the United States currently range between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $67,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Bridge Crane Operator job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Hoist Operator

  Salary range: $36,000 - $67,000

  As a hoist operator, your job is to operate hoisting equipment like forklifts, clamps, and elevating platforms to move products and inventory where they need to be. Hoist operators often help transport materials to a warehouse or worksite, load and unload trucks, choose which type of hoist is most appropriate for the situation, and interact with other workers to ensure they move materials when and where they are needed. You may perform safety checks, lubricate equipment, recharge batteries, fill fuel tanks, and operate equipment over difficult or uneven terrain.

• Boom Crane Operator

  Salary range: $43,500 - $62,500

  As a boom crane operator, your responsibilities include operating a boom crane to lift, move, unload, and position cargo and other equipment at construction and industrial sites. You also set up equipment and perform inspections before transporting loads. You may be responsible for repairing the crane and any equipment you use. Depending on where you work, other duties may include driving vehicles with trailers to job sites.

• Mobile Crane Operator

  Salary range: $40,000 - $59,000

  A mobile crane operator is a specialist with the licensure and expertise to run a crane. As a mobile crane operator, your responsibilities revolve around moving incredibly heavy objects safely and efficiently. Positions are commonly available in the construction and manufacturing industries. Many mobile crane operators specialize in operating a specific type of crane, such as a fixed cab, swing cab, lattice boom, or hydraulic boom crane. You must safely drive the crane over potentially rough terrain, communicate with the site crew, and follow all occupational standards for the industry.

• Boom Truck Driver

  Salary range: $48,000 - $56,000

  The majority of Boom Truck Driver salaries across the United States currently range between $48,000 (25th percentile) and $56,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Boom Truck Driver job market in the United States is active, with some companies hiring.

• Overhead Crane Inspector

  Salary range: $53,000 - $55,000

  The duties of an overhead crane inspector include the routine maintenance and repair of cranes according to industry safety guidelines and regulations. Your responsibilities include troubleshooting mechanical problems, ordering parts, performing repairs, and conducting preventative maintenance and load certification tests. You inspect operating mechanisms, control systems, braking systems, hydraulic and pneumatic components, electrical equipment, and more. Other duties include installing new parts, preparing repair reports and other required documentation, assisting management with field walk-throughs, and answering customer calls. You are expected to verify that all crane equipment is functioning correctly while meeting OSHA safety standards and any local requirements to ensure project safety.

• Truck Crane Operator

  Salary range: $47,000 - $49,000

  The majority of Truck Crane Operator salaries across the United States currently range between $47,000 (25th percentile) and $49,000 (75th percentile) annually. Most people working in this role make similar salaries regardless of skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Truck Crane Operator job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Overhead Crane Operator

  Salary range: $34,000 - $40,000

  As an overhead crane operator, your duties and responsibilities include operating different types of cranes, such as a gantry crane, at a construction site, rail depot, shipyard, or another facility. You use cranes for lifting steel components, ship containers, or other large objects. For example, at a construction site, you may move beams or mechanical equipment up to the tops of skyscrapers. At a port, on the other hand, you use cranes to unload ships and load trucks or trains which carry the freight to distribution facilities.

• Cherry Picker Operator

  Salary range: $34,000 - $38,000

  A cherry picker operator uses a hydraulic crane to raise and lower other people. They typically work in the construction and remodeling industries, although some warehouse positions are available. As a cherry picker operator, your job duties include using the machine to elevate workers for maintenance, repairs, and construction. You sit in the car of the cherry picker and use the controls to hoist the boom end of the crane up. This career requires extensive experience in a warehouse or construction setting. Additional qualifications include experience operating related machinery, good physical strength and stamina, and strong organization skills.