Crane and Tower Operators Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $60,110 -9.4% vs national
Median hourly $28.90
10th percentile $60,070
90th percentile $80,150
Employed locally 40
National median $66,370

Compare Crane and Tower Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Waterloo, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Crane and Tower Operators
in
Waterloo, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $60,070
    25th
    $60,110
    50th (median)
    $60,110
    75th
    $71,410
    90th
    $80,150

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Crane and Tower Operators salary vs area income 87% Median Crane and Tower Operators salary is 13% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Crane and Tower Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Worcester, MA $133,820
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $132,560
    Nevada $129,930
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $118,720
    Hawaii $115,870
    Urban Honolulu, HI $115,860

    Nearby metros — Crane and Tower Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $106,150
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $80,440
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $79,440
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $75,830
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $73,880
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $72,630

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $43,380
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $52,830
    Stockers and Order Fillers $37,320
    Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $46,770
    Light Truck Drivers $40,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $56,820

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Crane and Tower Operators make per hour in Waterloo?

    The median hourly wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Waterloo, IA is $28.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.53 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo above or below average for Crane and Tower Operators salaries?

    The median Crane and Tower Operators salary in Waterloo, IA is 9.4% below the national median of $66,370. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Crane and Tower Operators in Waterloo?

    Entry-level Crane and Tower Operators (10th percentile) earn around $60,070 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,110.