Crane and Tower Operators pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,450 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in South Bend earn between $48,100 and $53,920.
- $40K10th
- $48K25th
- $49KMedian
- $54K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,660 | $4,638 | $26.76 |
| Median | $49,440 | $4,120 | $23.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,100 | $4,008 | $23.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,920 | $4,493 | $25.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Crane and Tower Operators salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $55,660, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $44,306 a year, or $3,692 a month and $1,704 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MI | $44,784 | $3,732 |
| Working in IN | $44,306 | $3,692 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Is South Bend a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the South Bend area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $55,660 buys what about $59,941 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in South Bend ($46,540). A typical home costs $238,866, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 4th of 4 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($69,240).
- Indianapolis$69,240
- Evansville$66,530
- Elkhart$57,730
- South Bend$55,660
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 South Bend: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in South Bend?
$26.76 an hour on average, and $23.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in South Bend?
About $44,306 a year ($3,692 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,660. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do crane and tower operators earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($74,612).
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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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