Tower Crane Operator Salary: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
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The median annual wage for Tower Crane Operator in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX was $68,640 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $53,410 and $79,670.
Broader occupation Our title "Tower Crane Operator" is reported by BLS as SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators. BLS groups Tower Crane Operator within Crane and Tower Operators; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX median is $560 above the national median of $68,080 (0.8%).
Annual wages
Tower Crane Operator, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, annual wages: 10% earned less than $46,290, half earned less than the median of $68,640, 90% earned less than $91,940 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,290 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $53,410 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $68,640 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $79,670 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $91,940 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $69,630 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
Tower Crane Operator, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $22.26, half earned less than the median of $33.00, 90% earned less than $44.20 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.26 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $25.68 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $33.00 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $38.31 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $44.20 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $33.47 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
National comparison
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,640 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $52,600 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $68,080 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $83,200 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $103,570 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $72,130 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Nearby metro areas
Linked areas are neighboring BLS metro areas. Comparison links open the compare tool with BLS figures only.
All Tower Crane Operator figures | All roles in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
What belongs in the pay comparison for Tower Crane Operator?
Separate ordinary wages from overtime and travel arrangements. Ask about per diem, lodging, mobilization and the schedule away from home. Prevailing wage obligations and union scales depend on the job and agreement. BLS does not publish a special prevailing-wage or traveling-crew percentile.
Published wages are not a complete offer for this specific seat. The occupation is Crane and Tower Operators, SOC 53-7021. BLS groups Tower Crane Operator within Crane and Tower Operators; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Shop Foreman (49-1011)What changed since May 2024
SOC 53-7021. Published annual median: $74,570 (May 2024) and $68,640 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.