Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,900 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Pittsburgh earn between $49,250 and $73,210.
- $39K10th
- $49K25th
- $62KMedian
- $73K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,140 | $5,428 | $31.32 |
| Median | $61,510 | $5,126 | $29.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,250 | $4,104 | $23.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,210 | $6,101 | $35.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Pittsburgh earn 5% less than the Pennsylvania average ($68,580) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $65,140 | $61,510 | $38,780 | $113,900 | 330 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $65,140, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $52,520 a year, or $4,377 a month and $2,020 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross 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.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $65,140 buys what about $68,807 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 5th 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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$31.32 an hour on average, and $29.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $52,520 a year ($4,377 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,140. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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