Transportation & Logistics
Crane and Tower Operators
Also called: Crane Operator, Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Machine Operator
US median pay
$68,080
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
3,500
42,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
What they do day to day
- 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 crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
- Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.
- Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control3.9/5
- Operations Monitoring3.8/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Troubleshooting2.9/5
- Repairing2.9/5
- Equipment Maintenance2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
Knowledge
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Transportation2.9/5
- English Language2.9/5
- Public Safety and Security2.8/5
- Building and Construction2.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-secondary certificate61%
- High school diploma32%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.