Crane and Tower Operators · Tennessee

Crane and Tower Operators Salary in Tennessee

Crane and Tower Operators in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $59,410 —12.7% below the national median of $68,080. That ranks TN #44 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$59,410
Median hourly
$28.56
Entry level (P10)
$40,890
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$84,090
90th percentile
Employment
660
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-12.7%
U.S. $68,080

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$40,890
$45,910
$59,410
$78,920
$40,890$59,410$84,090
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $59,410.

Employment is only 0.73× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

Highest-paying states for crane and tower operators

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$124,260$59.741901.10
2Nevada$115,840$55.693800.89
3Rhode Island$104,340$50.16——
4Washington$101,110$48.611,0301.05
5New Jersey$100,640$48.391,0000.84
6Massachusetts$98,150$47.196800.68
7Alaska$92,490$44.47500.58
8Maryland$87,950$42.28——
9New York$85,850$41.271,1500.43
10Oregon$83,260$40.033400.63

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

How much do crane and tower operators make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for crane and tower operators in Tennessee is $59,410, or $28.56 per hour. That is 12.7% below the national median of $68,080.

What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $40,890 per year ($19.66/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,910.

How many people work as crane and tower operators in Tennessee?

About 660 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for crane and tower operators?

Tennessee ranks #44 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.73x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

Which state pays crane and tower operators the most?

Hawaii has the highest median wage at $124,260 per year, followed by Nevada ($115,840) and Rhode Island ($104,340).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes