SalaryExplorer

SOC 53-7021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Crane and Tower OperatorsSouth Central Wisconsin

South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area · 2 metro areas compared

$72,420 /year
$34.82per hour
60jobs in area
+6.4%vs US median

At $72,420, median pay for Crane and Tower Operators in South Central Wisconsin, WI tracks the national median of $68,080 closely.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $68,08010TH$50,030MEDIAN$72,42075TH$88,96090TH$112,470

Salary overview

At $72,420, median pay for Crane and Tower Operators in South Central Wisconsin, WI tracks the national median of $68,080 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $53,680 and $88,960. The lowest tenth earn under $50,030, while the highest tenth earn more than $112,470.

The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.00 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Green Bay leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $73,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 111th of 421 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$50,030−26.5%
25th$53,680−21.2%
Median (50th)$72,420+6.4%
75th$88,960+30.7%
90th$112,470+65.2%
Mean$75,160+10.4%

Other metro areas in Wisconsin

Median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Green Bay$73,78040
2Milwaukee$59,43090

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in South Central Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $72,420 goes as far as $76,961 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.0% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$72,420as reported by BLS

Local price level

94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$76,961US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $72,420 a year, 6.4% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $50,030 to $112,470 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Green Bay, at $73,780.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Crane and Tower Operators in South Central Wisconsin, WI?

The median annual wage is $72,420, or $34.82 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 South Central Wisconsin, WI is 6.4% 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 South Central Wisconsin, WI earns more than $112,470 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $50,030 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 Green Bay, at $73,780 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in South Central Wisconsin, WI. 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.

Crane and Tower Operators Salary in South Central Wisconsin, WI (2025): $72,420 Median | Salary Explorer