Salary guide, May 2025
Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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The median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $55,890 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $41,460 and $67,440.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $12,190 below the national median of $68,080, both from BLS May 2025.
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.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,290 | $41,460 | $55,890 | $67,440 | $107,760 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19.37 | $19.93 | $26.87 | $32.42 | $51.81 |
BLS estimated 1,880 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.51.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger median is $55,890. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.02 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.51 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $48,050 | $57,740 | $78,480 |
| May 2025 | $41,460 | $55,890 | $67,440 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 53-7021 Crane and Tower Operators, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
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.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $49,400 | $38,570 to $60,690 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $59,430 | $48,980 to $75,500 |
National page · Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger ranked across metros