Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,960 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Columbia earn between $47,620 and $77,310.
- $39K10th
- $48K25th
- $66KMedian
- $77K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,220 | $5,352 | $30.88 |
| Median | $65,870 | $5,489 | $31.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,620 | $3,968 | $22.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,310 | $6,442 | $37.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Crane and Tower Operators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Crane and tower operators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($65,890) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $68,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $64,220 | $65,870 | $39,370 | $88,960 | 50 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $64,220, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $51,839 a year, or $4,320 a month and $1,994 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 (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $64,220 buys what about $68,566 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($74,890).
- 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 Columbia: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Columbia?
$30.87 an hour on average, and $31.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $51,839 a year ($4,320 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,220.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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