Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,230 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Philadelphia earn between $60,160 and $94,350.
- $54K10th
- $60K25th
- $72KMedian
- $94K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,380 | $6,532 | $37.68 |
| Median | $72,010 | $6,001 | $34.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,160 | $5,013 | $28.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,350 | $7,862 | $45.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Philadelphia earn 14% more than the Pennsylvania average ($68,580) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $78,380 | $72,010 | $53,940 | $124,230 | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,580 | $65,190 | $44,320 | $106,380 | 1,630 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $78,380, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $61,564 a year, or $5,130 a month and $2,368 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $61,564 | $5,130 |
| Working in NJ | $61,167 | $5,097 |
| Working in MD | $60,459 | $5,038 |
| Working in DE | $60,028 | $5,002 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $78,380 buys what about $76,428 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 8 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Reading pays the most ($82,170).
- Reading$82,170
- Philadelphia$78,380
- Scranton$70,000
- Lancaster$68,850
- Pittsburgh$65,140
- Allentown$63,720
- York$61,500
- Harrisburg$61,370
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Philadelphia?
$37.68 an hour on average, and $34.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $61,564 a year ($5,130 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,380. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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