10 of the Most Popular Types of Tower Operator Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Tower Operator jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Tower 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.

• Control Tower Operator

  Salary range: $36,000 - $44,000

  As a control tower operator or air traffic controller, you coordinate a variety of land and air vehicles in the air, on taxiways, and on runways. In this career, you spend the majority of your work day in the control tower, where you oversee the airplanes and other traffic you control. You are responsible for verifying flight plans, as well as giving takeoff and landing clearance orders to pilots. Control tower operators are regulated and managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as you are responsible for the safety of commercial and private aircraft within the United States and international airspace under U.S. control.

• Tower Climber

  Salary range: $43,000 - $63,000

  A Tower Climber is part of a team of climbers who work on tower systems like broadcast, radio, internet, and cell phone towers. Tower Climbers responsibilities are to build, inspect, and maintain these towers and their equipment. Because Tower Climbers work in all weather, some climbers complete snowcat operator training to transport materials to towers surrounded by snow. Working at tall heights in all weather comes with risks, so fall protection training and rescue certification are necessary.

• Tower Foreman

  Salary range: $57,500 - $70,000

  Tower Foreman is a typical job search query Most salaries for Tower Foreman jobs pay between $57,500 (25th percentile) and $70,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Tower Foreman job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Tower Crane

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

  Tower Crane is a common job search query. Most salaries for Tower Crane jobs pay between $62,500 (25th percentile) and $81,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Tower Crane job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Crane Operator

  Salary range: $45,000 - $69,000

  A Crane Operator is a professional heavy machine operator, specializing in cranes. Cranes are a unique kind of heavy equipment that uses pulley systems to move around, raise, and lower large items, such as shipping containers and steel beams. A Crane Operator is in charge of moving these things where they need to go, safely and efficiently. The also log their work, discuss and plan with their team, and perform basic maintenance on their machine.

• No Experience Tower Climber

  Salary range: $43,000 - $63,000

  No Experience Tower Climber is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for No Experience Tower Climber jobs pay between $43,000 (25th percentile) and $63,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for No Experience Tower Climber job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Cell Tower

  Salary range: $43,000 - $63,000

  Cell Tower is a common job search query. Most salaries for Cell Tower jobs pay between $43,000 (25th percentile) and $63,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Cell Tower job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Tower Technician

  Salary range: $41,000 - $54,500

  The duties of a tower technician revolve around the maintenance, rigging, and installation of equipment located on the top of towers. Your responsibilities may vary depending on the industry in which you work; you may work on cell phone towers, maintain antennas, or install wireless equipment. Electrical service providers and companies in the construction industry may hire tower technicians or tower riggers to repair electrical cable or set up and maintain construction equipment on towers or cranes. The required skills may differ, but a tower technician works in the field and must be comfortable with heights.

• Entry Level Tower Climber

  Salary range: $43,000 - $63,000

  The job duties of an entry-level tower climber involve climbing towers to install or maintain equipment. In this role, your responsibilities may include inspecting the tower itself for damage or performing simple repairs. You may assist more experienced technicians or engineers as they make repairs or install equipment. One aspect of this job involves observing climbing safety procedures. Your job description may include acting as a rescue climber and aiding in rescue operations on a tower in instances of a fall or injury involving another employee.