Crane & Tower Operators

Also Called: Crane Operator, Mobile Crane Operator, Overhead Crane Operator

Certificate After High School

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$39,200

Entry Salary

Below Average

Job outlook

What Crane & Tower Operators do

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
Industry Areas:

Transportation

Training Program Areas:

Heavy Equipment Operations • Material Distribution Operations • OCT-Only Transportation • Roustabout

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
  • Contact With Others
  • Duration of Typical Work Week
  • Face-to-Face Discussions

Tools

  • Lifting hooks
  • Below the hook device
  • Screwdrivers
  • Tower cranes
  • Track cranes

Technology

Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Operation and Control
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
mechanical
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Education

  • 61% Post-secondary certificate
  • 32% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 8% Less than high school diploma

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Pile Driver Operators

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Crane & Tower Operators Currently Selected

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades & Extraction Workers

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Transportation Engineers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Atlantic Technical Center

    Coconut Creek, FL

  • Bakersfield College

    Bakersfield, CA

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Support
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Controlled Movement
  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Attention
  • Vision

This is what Crane & Tower Operators across the country typically make.

$18.85 / hour
$39,200 /year

Entry Level

$31.10 / hour
$64,690 /year

Median Level

$47.51 / hour
$98,820 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Below Average

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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