Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,450 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Paducah earn between $60,150 and $64,600.
- $46K10th
- $60K25th
- $63KMedian
- $65K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,830 | $5,319 | $30.69 |
| Median | $63,070 | $5,256 | $30.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,600 | $5,383 | $31.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Crane and Tower Operators salary after taxes in Paducah
On the average salary of $63,830, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $50,074 a year, or $4,173 a month and $1,926 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $50,449 | $4,204 |
| Working in KY | $50,074 | $4,173 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $63,830 buys what about $74,149 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 3rd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($72,090).
- Louisville$72,090
- Lexington$71,570
- Paducah$63,830
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 Paducah: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Paducah?
$30.69 an hour on average, and $30.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Paducah?
About $50,074 a year ($4,173 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,830. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.31, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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