Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,820 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Los Angeles earn between $76,340 and $135,430.
- $49K10th
- $76K25th
- $81KMedian
- $135K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,960 | $7,913 | $45.65 |
| Median | $81,490 | $6,791 | $39.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,340 | $6,362 | $36.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,430 | $11,286 | $65.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Los Angeles earn 9% more than the California average ($87,030) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $94,960 | $81,490 | $49,420 | $135,820 | 590 |
| California | $87,030 | $79,570 | $50,550 | $135,820 | 2,130 |
| 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 Los Angeles
On the average salary of $94,960, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $70,895 a year, or $5,908 a month and $2,727 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $94,960 buys what about $83,617 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 2nd of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($104,910).
- San Francisco$104,910
- Los Angeles$94,960
- Fresno$91,850
- Vallejo$84,000
- Stockton$83,410
- San Diego$82,580
- Bakersfield$76,190
- Oxnard$75,900
- Riverside$73,680
- Sacramento$69,400
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 Los Angeles: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Los Angeles?
$45.65 an hour on average, and $39.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $70,895 a year ($5,908 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,960. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.34, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.34).
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