Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,710 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Tuscaloosa earn between $38,920 and $66,620.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $49KMedian
- $67K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,760 | $4,397 | $25.37 |
| Median | $48,870 | $4,072 | $23.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,920 | $3,243 | $18.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,620 | $5,552 | $32.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Tuscaloosa vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Tuscaloosa earn 14% less than the Alabama average ($61,170) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $52,760 | $48,870 | $36,360 | $72,710 | 40 |
| Alabama | $61,170 | $60,790 | $37,650 | $99,380 | 1,280 |
| 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 Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $52,760, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $42,382 a year, or $3,532 a month and $1,630 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $52,760 buys what about $60,145 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 4th of 6 Alabama metro areas for this job; Mobile pays the most ($73,280).
- Mobile$73,280
- Decatur$66,080
- Anniston$54,850
- Tuscaloosa$52,760
- Birmingham$52,740
- Montgomery$49,060
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 Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$25.37 an hour on average, and $23.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $42,382 a year ($3,532 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,760. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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