Mobile Crane Operator: metro pay ranking

At Skilled Trades Headhunters, this is what we do all day: recruit skilled trades professionals.

Skilled Trades Headhunters compares published medians for SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators, not estimated offers for this particular title.

Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?

This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Crane and Tower Operators. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
Metro	Median	Employment	Location quotient	Trade median / all-occupations median
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$131,690	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	2.82
Worcester, MA	$122,260	110	1.16	2.11
Urban Honolulu, HI	$120,560	170	1.38	2.11
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$120,310	40	1.17	2.10
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$116,840	70	4.69	1.96
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$114,330	570	0.99	1.57
Reno, NV	$101,160	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	2.04
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$100,640	1,500	0.57	1.64
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$99,540	180	0.34	1.68
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$99,320	110	4.14	1.57
New Haven, CT	$99,130	30	0.4	1.65
Reading, PA	$98,860	60	1.22	2.00
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,410	240	0.36	1.33
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$98,140	500	0.67	1.47
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$97,740	50	0.3	1.63
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$96,510	40	0.79	2.03
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$92,120	410	0.48	1.30
Springfield, MA	$90,320	40	0.72	1.74
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$89,880	130	0.64	1.67
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$87,950	410	1.09	1.49
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$83,040	90	0.88	1.66
Fargo, ND-MN	$81,980	40	1	1.61
Las Cruces, NM	$81,830	50	2.3	1.95
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$81,490	590	0.34	1.46
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$81,280	50	0.96	1.70
Kansas City, MO-KS	$81,150	330	1.08	1.60
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$80,880	320	2.94	1.65
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$80,850	170	0.91	1.67
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$80,700	40	1.34	1.85
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$80,260	210	0.62	1.32
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$79,970	250	1.08	1.45
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$79,720	210	0.49	1.36
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$79,500	70	0.97	1.45
Midland, TX	$79,220	150	4.58	1.45
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$78,310	50	0.53	1.49
Wichita, KS	$78,180	340	4	1.64
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$78,140	260	0.55	1.61
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$78,100	530	0.68	1.61
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$78,080	40	0.4	1.27
Casper, WY	$77,830	40	3.32	1.59
Lincoln, NE	$77,500	100	1.9	1.56
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$77,490	50	1.39	1.29
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$77,420	370	0.93	1.58
Fresno, CA	$77,330	50	0.41	1.65
Vallejo, CA	$77,320	30	0.8	1.32
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$77,200	250	0.57	1.24
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$77,130	50	0.65	1.57
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$77,010	160	2.41	1.57
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$76,940	40	0.55	1.67
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$76,750	210	0.71	1.52
Saginaw, MI	$76,750	30	1.55	1.66
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$76,510	190	2.25	1.64
Tulsa, OK	$76,400	200	1.59	1.64
Killeen-Temple, TX	$76,010	40	1	1.63
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$75,760	90	0.84	1.46
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$75,500	2,100	2.31	1.53
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$75,360	230	0.64	1.32
Odessa, TX	$75,310	90	3.89	1.55
Duluth, MN-WI	$75,230	40	1.31	1.50
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$74,700	60	0.39	1.47
Portland-South Portland, ME	$74,650	170	2.15	1.31
Corpus Christi, TX	$74,200	330	6.23	1.64
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$74,130	50	0.59	1.52
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	$74,040	30	2.3	1.49
Green Bay, WI	$73,780	40	0.8	1.48
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$73,710	40	0.43	1.21
Rocky Mount, NC	$73,420	30	2	1.67
Greeley, CO	$73,340	30	0.97	1.33
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$73,050	240	5.26	1.50
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$73,010	40	0.35	1.25
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$72,880	300	0.77	1.56
Savannah, GA	$72,660	160	2.99	1.54
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$72,580	630	0.97	1.41
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$72,520	170	0.82	1.39
Lancaster, PA	$72,150	80	1.09	1.50
Canton-Massillon, OH	$72,070	110	2.54	1.57
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$72,020	340	1.1	1.46
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$72,010	790	0.98	1.33
Ogden, UT	$71,950	40	0.54	1.47
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$71,770	50	0.68	1.55
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$71,400	430	2.05	1.44
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$70,890	50	1.38	1.24
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$70,840	160	1.75	1.49
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$69,270	110	2.16	1.43
Omaha, NE-IA	$68,880	150	1.12	1.39
Wilmington, NC	$68,670	60	1.09	1.50
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$68,640	1,310	1.17	1.33
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$68,460	40	0.88	1.38
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$68,200	270	0.86	1.45
Winston-Salem, NC	$67,280	100	1.3	1.45
Columbus, OH	$66,710	120	0.39	1.30
Baton Rouge, LA	$66,680	560	4.92	1.37
Columbia, SC	$65,870	50	0.49	1.42
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	$65,750	40	1.78	1.42
Mobile, AL	$65,510	260	5.55	1.39
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$65,490	420	3.43	1.38
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	$64,840	50	1.94	1.44
Tucson, AZ	$64,750	100	0.93	1.36
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$64,730	80	0.8	1.39
Akron, OH	$64,650	120	1.36	1.32
Jacksonville, FL	$64,600	340	1.63	1.32
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$64,520	140	3.11	1.48
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$64,500	170	0.58	1.08
Evansville, IN	$64,100	90	2.41	1.38
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$63,960	70	1.4	1.33
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$63,780	100	1.11	1.34
HVAC manufacturers-Hanover, PA	$63,680	60	1.19	1.32
Jackson, MS	$63,610	100	1.38	1.48
Winchester, VA-WV	$63,480	40	2	1.35
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$63,300	300	0.81	1.27
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$63,190	90	0.89	1.29
Paducah, KY-IL	$63,070	30	2.31	1.38
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$62,910	660	0.83	1.23
El Paso, TX	$62,280	120	1.24	1.58
Pittsburgh, PA	$61,510	330	1.06	1.24
Waco, TX	$61,350	50	1.27	1.33
Richmond, VA	$61,180	170	0.91	1.19
Tallahassee, FL	$61,040	50	1.04	1.31
Longview, TX	$60,830	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.35
College Station-Bryan, TX	$60,520	40	1.18	1.36
Boise City, ID	$60,440	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.23
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$60,110	40	1.92	1.27
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$60,010	80	1.08	1.30
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$59,740	650	1.24	1.15
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$59,430	90	0.4	1.16
Jackson, TN	$59,410	70	2.97	1.33
Oklahoma City, OK	$59,110	150	0.8	1.25
Lafayette, LA	$58,780	100	2	1.41
Knoxville, TN	$58,670	110	0.97	1.25
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$58,370	90	0.77	1.25
St. Cloud, MN	$57,680	30	1.18	1.13
Cleveland, OH	$57,620	400	1.41	1.15
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	$57,230	300	12.82	1.25
Toledo, OH	$57,020	120	1.52	1.18
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$56,780	80	1.95	1.27
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$56,300	50	0.67	1.57
Anniston-Oxford, AL	$56,010	40	3.44	1.31
Tyler, TX	$55,930	30	1.1	1.31
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$55,890	1,880	1.51	1.02
Monroe, LA	$55,770	40	1.46	1.46
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$55,000	210	0.69	1.10
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$54,560	230	1.39	1.15
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$54,300	80	1.9	1.24
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$54,060	30	0.8	1.48
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$53,600	110	0.66	1.14
Roanoke, VA	$52,540	40	0.92	1.11
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$51,450	80	0.92	1.04
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$50,550	40	1.28	1.05
Dubuque, IA	$49,720	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.02
Monroe, MI	$49,480	60	5.7	1.07
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$49,440	40	1.08	1.06
Rockford, IL	$49,400	40	1.11	1.05
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$48,920	40	0.45	1.02
Tuscaloosa, AL	$48,870	40	1.17	1.08
Florence, SC	$48,100	60	2.27	1.11
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$48,060	120	2.67	1.07
Birmingham, AL	$47,620	310	2.15	1.00
Spartanburg, SC	$47,200	60	1.32	0.99
Bangor, ME	$46,540	40	2.04	0.97
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$46,430	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.00
St. Louis, MO-IL	$46,170	320	0.87	0.92
San Angelo, TX	$45,950	40	2.94	1.06
Decatur, AL	$45,640	100	6.07	0.99
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$45,280	60	0.77	0.97
Montgomery, AL	$44,480	40	0.95	0.99
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$44,330	90	3.33	1.12
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$42,380	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	0.93

The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.

Where does this trade pay most relative to local wages?

Occupation median divided by the same area's all-occupations median
Area	Wage ratio	Median	Location quotient
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	2.82	$131,690	Not published by BLS
Worcester, MA	2.11	$122,260	1.16
Urban Honolulu, HI	2.11	$120,560	1.38
Kennewick-Richland, WA	2.10	$120,310	1.17
Reno, NV	2.04	$101,160	Not published by BLS
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	2.03	$96,510	0.79
Reading, PA	2.00	$98,860	1.22
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	1.96	$116,840	4.69
Las Cruces, NM	1.95	$81,830	2.3
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	1.85	$80,700	1.34
Springfield, MA	1.74	$90,320	0.72
Naples-Marco Island, FL	1.70	$81,280	0.96
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	1.68	$99,540	0.34
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	1.67	$89,880	0.64
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	1.67	$76,940	0.55
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	1.67	$80,850	0.91
Rocky Mount, NC	1.67	$73,420	2
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	1.66	$83,040	0.88
Saginaw, MI	1.66	$76,750	1.55
New Haven, CT	1.65	$99,130	0.4
Fresno, CA	1.65	$77,330	0.41
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	1.65	$80,880	2.94
Wichita, KS	1.64	$78,180	4
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	1.64	$100,640	0.57
Tulsa, OK	1.64	$76,400	1.59
Corpus Christi, TX	1.64	$74,200	6.23
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	1.64	$76,510	2.25
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	1.63	$97,740	0.3
Killeen-Temple, TX	1.63	$76,010	1
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	1.61	$78,140	0.55
Fargo, ND-MN	1.61	$81,980	1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	1.61	$78,100	0.68
Kansas City, MO-KS	1.60	$81,150	1.08
Casper, WY	1.59	$77,830	3.32
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	1.58	$77,420	0.93
El Paso, TX	1.58	$62,280	1.24
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	1.57	$114,330	0.99
Stockton-Lodi, CA	1.57	$77,130	0.65
Canton-Massillon, OH	1.57	$72,070	2.54
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	1.57	$99,320	4.14
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	1.57	$56,300	0.67
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	1.57	$77,010	2.41
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	1.56	$72,880	0.77
Lincoln, NE	1.56	$77,500	1.9
Odessa, TX	1.55	$75,310	3.89
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	1.55	$71,770	0.68
Savannah, GA	1.54	$72,660	2.99
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	1.53	$75,500	2.31
Lexington-Fayette, KY	1.52	$74,130	0.59
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	1.52	$76,750	0.71
Duluth, MN-WI	1.50	$75,230	1.31
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	1.50	$73,050	5.26
Wilmington, NC	1.50	$68,670	1.09
Lancaster, PA	1.50	$72,150	1.09
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	1.49	$74,040	2.3
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	1.49	$70,840	1.75
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	1.49	$78,310	0.53
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	1.49	$87,950	1.09
Jackson, MS	1.48	$63,610	1.38
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	1.48	$64,520	3.11
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	1.48	$54,060	0.8
Green Bay, WI	1.48	$73,780	0.8
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1.47	$98,140	0.67
Ogden, UT	1.47	$71,950	0.54
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	1.47	$74,700	0.39
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1.46	$75,760	0.84
Monroe, LA	1.46	$55,770	1.46
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	1.46	$72,020	1.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1.46	$81,490	0.34
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	1.45	$79,500	0.97
Midland, TX	1.45	$79,220	4.58
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	1.45	$68,200	0.86
Winston-Salem, NC	1.45	$67,280	1.3
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	1.45	$79,970	1.08
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	1.44	$71,400	2.05
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	1.44	$64,840	1.94
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	1.43	$69,270	2.16
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	1.42	$65,750	1.78
Columbia, SC	1.42	$65,870	0.49
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	1.41	$72,580	0.97
Lafayette, LA	1.41	$58,780	2
Raleigh-Cary, NC	1.39	$72,520	0.82
Mobile, AL	1.39	$65,510	5.55
Greensboro-High Point, NC	1.39	$64,730	0.8
Omaha, NE-IA	1.39	$68,880	1.12
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	1.38	$65,490	3.43
Eugene-Springfield, OR	1.38	$68,460	0.88
Evansville, IN	1.38	$64,100	2.41
Paducah, KY-IL	1.38	$63,070	2.31
Baton Rouge, LA	1.37	$66,680	4.92
College Station-Bryan, TX	1.36	$60,520	1.18
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	1.36	$79,720	0.49
Tucson, AZ	1.36	$64,750	0.93
Winchester, VA-WV	1.35	$63,480	2
Longview, TX	1.35	$60,830	Not published by BLS
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	1.34	$63,780	1.11
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	1.33	$68,640	1.17
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	1.33	$63,960	1.4
Waco, TX	1.33	$61,350	1.27
Greeley, CO	1.33	$73,340	0.97
Jackson, TN	1.33	$59,410	2.97
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	1.33	$72,010	0.98
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1.33	$98,410	0.36
Akron, OH	1.32	$64,650	1.36
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	1.32	$75,360	0.64
Jacksonville, FL	1.32	$64,600	1.63
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	1.32	$80,260	0.62
HVAC manufacturers-Hanover, PA	1.32	$63,680	1.19
Vallejo, CA	1.32	$77,320	0.8
Anniston-Oxford, AL	1.31	$56,010	3.44
Tallahassee, FL	1.31	$61,040	1.04
Tyler, TX	1.31	$55,930	1.1
Portland-South Portland, ME	1.31	$74,650	2.15
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	1.30	$60,010	1.08
Columbus, OH	1.30	$66,710	0.39
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	1.30	$92,120	0.48
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	1.29	$77,490	1.39
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	1.29	$63,190	0.89
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	1.27	$56,780	1.95
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	1.27	$78,080	0.4
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	1.27	$60,110	1.92
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	1.27	$63,300	0.81
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	1.25	$57,230	12.82
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	1.25	$58,370	0.77
Oklahoma City, OK	1.25	$59,110	0.8
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	1.25	$73,010	0.35
Knoxville, TN	1.25	$58,670	0.97
Youngstown-Warren, OH	1.24	$54,300	1.9
Pittsburgh, PA	1.24	$61,510	1.06
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	1.24	$77,200	0.57
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	1.24	$70,890	1.38
Boise City, ID	1.23	$60,440	Not published by BLS
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	1.23	$62,910	0.83
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	1.21	$73,710	0.43
Richmond, VA	1.19	$61,180	0.91
Toledo, OH	1.18	$57,020	1.52
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	1.16	$59,430	0.4
Cleveland, OH	1.15	$57,620	1.41
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	1.15	$59,740	1.24
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	1.15	$54,560	1.39
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	1.14	$53,600	0.66
St. Cloud, MN	1.13	$57,680	1.18
Fort Smith, AR-OK	1.12	$44,330	3.33
Roanoke, VA	1.11	$52,540	0.92
Florence, SC	1.11	$48,100	2.27
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	1.10	$55,000	0.69
Tuscaloosa, AL	1.08	$48,870	1.17
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	1.08	$64,500	0.58
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	1.07	$48,060	2.67
Monroe, MI	1.07	$49,480	5.7
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	1.06	$49,440	1.08
San Angelo, TX	1.06	$45,950	2.94
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	1.05	$50,550	1.28
Rockford, IL	1.05	$49,400	1.11
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	1.04	$51,450	0.92
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	1.02	$55,890	1.51
Dubuque, IA	1.02	$49,720	Not published by BLS
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	1.02	$48,920	0.45
Birmingham, AL	1.00	$47,620	2.15
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	1.00	$46,430	Not published by BLS
Spartanburg, SC	0.99	$47,200	1.32
Montgomery, AL	0.99	$44,480	0.95
Decatur, AL	0.99	$45,640	6.07
Bangor, ME	0.97	$46,540	2.04
Chattanooga, TN-GA	0.97	$45,280	0.77
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	0.93	$42,380	Not published by BLS
St. Louis, MO-IL	0.92	$46,170	0.87

Broader occupation Our title "Mobile Crane Operator" is reported by BLS as SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators. BLS groups Mobile Crane Operator within Crane and Tower Operators; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.

National percentile table Methodology