SOC 53-7021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Crane and Tower Operators — Hill Country Region of Texas
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Hill Country Region of Texas, TX comes to $74,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $68,080 by 9.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Hill Country Region of Texas, TX comes to $74,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $68,080 by 9.0%. Pay ranges from under $42,790 at the tenth percentile to more than $94,760 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,640 to $77,550.
The area has 120 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.17 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Midland records the highest median at $79,220. Of the 431 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 95th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,790 | −37.1% |
| 25th | $59,640 | −12.4% |
| Median (50th) | $74,210 | +9.0% |
| 75th | $77,550 | +13.9% |
| 90th | $94,760 | +39.2% |
| Mean | $69,600 | +2.2% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland | $79,220 | 150 | |
| 2 | Killeen | $76,010 | 40 | |
| 3 | Houston | $75,500 | 2,100 | |
| 4 | Austin | $75,360 | 230 | |
| 5 | Odessa | $75,310 | 90 | |
| 6 | Corpus Christi | $74,200 | 330 | |
| 7 | Beaumont | $73,050 | 240 | |
| 8 | Dallas | $68,640 | 1,310 | |
| 9 | San Antonio | $68,200 | 270 | |
| 10 | El Paso | $62,280 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hill Country Region of Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $74,210 goes as far as $76,426 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,426US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,210 a year, 9.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,790 to $94,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Midland, at $79,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Hill Country Region of Texas, TX?
The median annual wage is $74,210, or $35.68 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $68,080, so pay in Hill Country Region of Texas, TX is 9.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Hill Country Region of Texas, TX earns more than $94,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,790 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Midland, at $79,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Hill Country Region of Texas, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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