SOC 53-7021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Crane and Tower Operators — Montana
Montana
In Montana the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators is $82,800 a year, which is 21.6% higher than the national figure of $68,080.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Montana the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators is $82,800 a year, which is 21.6% higher than the national figure of $68,080. Half of workers earn between $74,170 and $95,840. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $51,970 and the ninetieth at $101,860.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Montana ranks 12th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 115th of 604 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,970 | −23.7% |
| 25th | $74,170 | +8.9% |
| Median (50th) | $82,800 | +21.6% |
| 75th | $95,840 | +40.8% |
| 90th | $101,860 | +49.6% |
| Mean | $81,740 | +20.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $82,800 goes as far as $87,526 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 28.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$87,526US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,800 a year, 21.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $51,970 to $101,860 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 50 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Montana?
The median annual wage is $82,800, or $39.81 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 Montana is 21.6% 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 Montana earns more than $101,860 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $51,970 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Montana. 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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