Certified Crane Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Crane Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Crane Operator in the United States is $52,054 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, a Certified Crane Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,993
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,154 to $57,257
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,782
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View as table View as graph 25% $46,154 10% $40,782 90% $61,993 75% $57,257 $52,054 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Certified Crane Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $57,257 $4,771 $1,101 $28
Average $52,054 $4,338 $1,001 $25
25th Percentile $46,154 $3,846 $888 $22
Check out Certified Crane Operator Job Openings in the United States
Crane and Forklift Operator

Lockheed Martin - NEW ORLEANS, LA

Heavy Equipment Crane Operator

ASRC Federal - CAPE CANAVERAL, FL

U103 CRANE OPERATOR SLINGER Bx

Northrop Grumman - SUNNYVALE, CA

Rigger

Department of Defense - MECHANICSBURG, PA

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Key Factors That Influence Certified Crane Operator Salaries

A Certified Crane Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Crane Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Crane Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $50,661
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,645
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,869
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,191
  • Expert (over 8 years): $55,356
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Crane Operator$50,661
Intermediate Level Certified Crane Operator$51,645
Senior Level Certified Crane Operator$53,869
Specialist Level Certified Crane Operator$55,191
Expert Level Certified Crane Operator$55,356
$50,661 0 yr
$51,645 < 2 yrs
$53,869 2-4 yrs
$55,191 5-8 yrs
$55,356 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Certified Crane Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $65,656
  • San Francisco: $65,011
  • Oakland: $63,569

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Crane Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.64% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Housekeeping (Mentioned in 2.55% Job Postings): Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.64%
Housekeeping 2.55%
Installation 1.38%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Crane Operator's salary.
  • Team Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Operations
 $60,904
17%
Customer Service
 $55,178
6%
Commitment
 $54,657
5%
Carpentry
 $54,657
5%
Leadership
 $54,657
5%
Waste Management
 $54,136
4%
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Certified Crane Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Crane Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$46,154
Average $52,054/year
$57,257
$3,846
Average $4,338/month
$4,771
$888
Average $1,001/week
$1,101
$22
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $57,257 $4,771 $1,101 $28
Average $52,054 $4,338 $1,001 $25
25th Percentile $46,154 $3,846 $888 $22

Salaries of jobs related to Certified Crane Operator

Salary Trends for Certified Crane Operator

Salaries for a Certified Crane Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,301 in 2023 to around $50,288 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Certified Crane Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Certified Crane Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,301
2024
$50,617
2025
$50,288
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,301
2024 $50,617
2025 $50,288
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Certified Crane Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Certified Crane Operator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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