SOC 53-7021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Crane and Tower Operators — Indiana
Indiana · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Indiana is $52,950 a year, trailing the national median of $68,080 by 22.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Indiana is $52,950 a year, trailing the national median of $68,080 by 22.2%. Half of workers earn between $40,450 and $66,070. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,830 and the ninetieth at $87,640.
The area has 2,300 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.60 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Indiana ranks 48th by median wage. Indianapolis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $72,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 427th of 753 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,830 | −43.0% |
| 25th | $40,450 | −40.6% |
| Median (50th) | $52,950 | −22.2% |
| 75th | $66,070 | −3.0% |
| 90th | $87,640 | +28.7% |
| Mean | $57,330 | −15.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis | $72,020 | 340 | |
| 2 | Evansville | $64,100 | 90 | |
| 3 | Elkhart | $50,550 | 40 | |
| 4 | South Bend | $49,440 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $52,950 goes as far as $56,752 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,752US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,950 a year, 22.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,830 to $87,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,300 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Indianapolis, at $72,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $52,950, or $25.46 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 Indiana is 22.2% lower. 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 Indiana earns more than $87,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,830 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 Indianapolis, at $72,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,300 jobs in this occupation in Indiana. 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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