Salary guide, May 2025
Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in the United States was $68,080 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $52,600 and $83,200.
Also searched as: Crane Operator, Rigger, Rigger / Signal Person. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Direct match · SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators
The Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $42,640 | $52,600 | $68,080 | $83,200 | $103,570 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20.50 | $25.29 | $32.73 | $40.00 | $49.79 |
BLS estimated 42,890 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $78,100 | $62,360 to $83,230 | 530 | 0.68 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $77,420 | $61,010 to $81,580 | 370 | 0.93 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $72,880 | $60,260 to $79,790 | 300 | 0.77 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $72,520 | $60,540 to $84,280 | 170 | 0.82 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,640 | $85,850 to $128,150 | 1,500 | 0.57 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,640 | $85,850 to $128,150 | 1,500 | 0.57 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,640 | $53,410 to $79,670 | 1,310 | 1.17 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $55,890 | $41,460 to $67,440 | 1,880 | 1.51 |
Rank every metro for Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$110,270
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$110,270
- Chemical Manufacturing$90,010
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$90,010
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$78,410
- Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing$74,540
- Paper Manufacturing$72,410
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$72,410
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$66,600
- Ship and Boat Building$66,600
- Machine Shops$61,650
- Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing$61,510
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing$60,920
- Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing$60,920
- Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing$60,880
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 10,480 | $44,320 | $52,510 | $64,520 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 4,300 | $40,450 | $49,480 | $60,200 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 2,560 | $38,110 | $46,170 | $56,510 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 1,740 | $40,310 | $46,700 | $57,080 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 1,430 | $56,880 | $66,600 | $78,410 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 950 | $46,740 | $52,910 | $63,580 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 950 | $46,740 | $52,910 | $63,580 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 920 | $42,340 | $48,600 | $58,900 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 910 | $44,720 | $52,600 | $72,340 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 630 | $64,520 | $66,600 | $73,030 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 540 | $47,240 | $55,140 | $76,180 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 500 | $36,370 | $44,630 | $45,830 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 500 | $50,930 | $59,790 | $63,790 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 480 | $78,180 | $78,410 | $114,330 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 440 | $50,930 | $59,350 | $64,720 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 410 | $46,150 | $55,810 | $64,100 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 400 | $49,840 | $50,710 | $51,300 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 280 | $58,430 | $74,540 | $80,820 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 260 | $50,590 | $56,480 | $60,880 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 250 | $43,670 | $50,550 | $60,220 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 220 | $42,540 | $46,990 | $52,400 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 210 | $41,120 | $44,270 | $46,840 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 210 | $52,410 | $60,920 | $63,610 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 210 | $52,410 | $60,920 | $63,610 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 160 | $64,280 | $72,410 | $74,090 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 160 | $64,280 | $72,410 | $74,090 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 150 | $39,740 | $49,780 | $56,010 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 80 | $105,040 | $110,270 | $123,580 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 80 | $105,040 | $110,270 | $123,580 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 80 | $38,050 | $45,400 | $56,890 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 80 | $38,050 | $45,400 | $56,890 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 70 | $47,670 | $60,880 | $68,210 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 50 | $49,730 | $90,010 | $99,100 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 50 | $49,730 | $90,010 | $99,100 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 50 | $52,520 | $61,650 | $69,950 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 40 | $36,210 | $46,530 | $75,490 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 40 | $47,350 | $50,950 | $63,540 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 30 | $56,990 | $61,510 | $61,510 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $42,730 | $43,510 | $47,830 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $50,970 | $66,370 | $81,630 |
| May 2025 | $52,600 | $68,080 | $83,200 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Logistics Supervisor pay (SOC 53-1047)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about equipment and loads?
Overhead and gantry cranes lift coils, dies, castings and fabrications. Operators control the hoist, bridge and trolley, often by pendant or remote. Riggers choose slings and hitches. Alternate titles include Crane Operator and Signal Person. We ask what loads the person lifted and who selected the rigging.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. 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.
What is the median pay for a Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger?
The median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in the United States was $68,080 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $52,600 and $83,200.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $42,640. 90% earned less than $103,570.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. 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.
Is this the pay for a Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger at a plant?
The Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 42,890 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
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What does this data mean for your opening?
The Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger role maps directly to SOC 53-7021, Crane and Tower Operators. The current national median is $68,080, reflecting an increase of $1,710 from the May 2024 median of $66,370. This occupation has a significant middle-band width of $30,600, indicating a wide spread in compensation depending on the complexity of rigging and load calculations.
Manufacturing Headhunters notes that national industry medians, such as those for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing ($110,270) and Chemical Manufacturing ($90,010), highlight the wage premiums paid in hazardous, heavy-industrial environments. BLS statistics exclude bonuses and overtime, which are critical for total compensation in these roles.
Regional analysis of the two largest hubs displays divergence. The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, area reports a median of $75,500, which is substantially above the national figure, likely driven by the concentration of petrochemical facilities. Conversely, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, region shows a median of $55,890, falling below the national median. The large discrepancy in P90 percentiles suggests that highly specialized, high-risk crane operations in heavy industry drive the top end of the market significantly higher than the general industrial crane operator role included in the wider SOC statistics.
Hiring managers must recognize that the BLS data includes a wide range of equipment, from simple gantry cranes to highly complex tower systems. A recruiter must prioritize candidates with NCCCO certification, as this is the standard for qualifying riggers and operators. Because the location quotient in Houston is notably high, the competition for certified talent is intense. When setting budgets, the $30,600 middle-band width confirms that pay is heavily dependent on specific rigging capacity and experience level. Relying on the median would likely fail to attract the high-caliber riggers required for critical-lift environments in modern manufacturing plants.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How should I interpret the wide difference between Houston and Chicago medians?
Industry density in Houston heavily skews the pay toward high-hazard, heavy-industrial crane work. Chicago represents a broader, less niche distribution, leading to a lower overall median for this specific SOC.
Does the national median reflect the pay for someone with NCCCO certification?
The median reflects an average of all crane and tower operators in the country, including those with and without specific certifications. Your budget should likely target the upper end of the middle band to account for premium credentials.
Is the wage change of $1,710 across all industry types?
Yes, this figure represents the overall change in the median for this SOC across all recorded industries. It is not segmented by the industry-specific premiums found in Petrochemical or Chemical sectors.
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