# Crane and Tower Operators

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/crane-and-tower-operators
- SOC code: 53-7021.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $68,080 (10th percentile $42,640, 90th percentile $103,570)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.8%
- Openings a year: 3,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 20 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 5 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 99/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 98/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 98/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 94/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 87/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (importance 82/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Time Management, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Mathematics, Transportation, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Building and Construction, Education and Training, Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Engineering and Technology

## Also called

Acid Crane Operator, Boom Cat Operator, Boom Crane Operator, Boomswing Operator, Bottom Crane Operator, Bridge Crane Operator, Burial Vault Deliverer, Burial Vault Installer, Cantilever Crane Operator, Cathead Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ground Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4902) (CIP 4902, 213 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Ground Transportation | $54,938 | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-truck-and-tractor-operators): $46,420 median pay
- [Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mobile-heavy-equipment-mechanics-except-engines): $65,510 median pay
- [Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/excavating-and-loading-machine-and-dragline-operators-surface-mining): $57,430 median pay
- [Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/operating-engineers-and-other-construction-equipment-operators): $59,850 median pay
- [Riggers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/riggers): $62,640 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.