Salary guide, May 2025
Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV was $92,120 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $70,250 and $94,700.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV median is $24,040 above 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 washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $62,300 | $70,250 | $92,120 | $94,700 | $94,700 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $29.95 | $33.77 | $44.29 | $45.53 | $45.53 |
BLS estimated 410 workers employed in this occupation in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Location quotient: 0.48.
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 $92,120. The all-occupations median in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $71,060. Ratio: 1.30 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.48 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 | $60,320 | $69,510 | $86,560 |
| May 2025 | $70,250 | $92,120 | $94,700 |
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, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $87,950 | $68,790 to $87,950 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $63,480 | $54,210 to $79,000 |
All roles in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · National page · Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger ranked across metros