Crane and Tower Operators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,620 or more. The middle half of crane and tower operators in Memphis earn between $43,870 and $80,260.
- $38K10th
- $44K25th
- $54KMedian
- $80K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,310 | $4,942 | $28.51 |
| Median | $53,600 | $4,467 | $25.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,870 | $3,656 | $21.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,260 | $6,688 | $38.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Crane and Tower Operators salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $59,310, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $49,836 a year, or $4,153 a month and $1,917 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $49,836 | $4,153 |
| Working in MS | $48,195 | $4,016 |
| Working in AR | $48,129 | $4,011 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for crane and tower operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $59,310 buys what about $64,342 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Crane and Tower Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($68,450).
- Nashville$68,450
- Jackson$60,660
- Knoxville$59,930
- Memphis$59,310
- Chattanooga$54,140
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 Memphis: questions
How much do crane and tower operators make an hour in Memphis?
$28.52 an hour on average, and $25.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level crane and tower operators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the crane and tower operators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $49,836 a year ($4,153 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,310. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do crane and tower operators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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