Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,340 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Charleston earn between $60,140 and $80,880.
- $47K10th
- $60K25th
- $81KMedian
- $81K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,890 | $6,241 | $36.00 |
| Median | $80,880 | $6,740 | $38.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,140 | $5,012 | $28.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,880 | $6,740 | $38.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Charleston earn 14% more than the South Carolina average ($65,890) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $74,890 | $80,880 | $46,990 | $97,340 | 320 |
| South Carolina | $65,890 | $64,120 | $45,420 | $89,440 | 720 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $74,890, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $58,865 a year, or $4,905 a month and $2,264 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $74,890 buys what about $74,176 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$74,890
- Columbia$64,220
- Greenville$58,720
- Florence$54,640
- Spartanburg$52,030
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 Charleston: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Charleston?
$36.01 an hour on average, and $38.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $58,865 a year ($4,905 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,890.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.94, this job is 2.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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