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Crane and Tower Operators

General Information

Description

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit92.65%
  2. Self-employed3.03%
  3. Federal government2.33%
  4. State and local government1.44%
  5. Private, not for profit0.43%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Architecture & Construction

Job Outlook

Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to grow 7 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 105,700 openings for material moving machine operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to grow 7 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 105,700 openings for material moving machine operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Similar Careers

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$62,240

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$116,370
$26,320
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Post-secondary certificate 60%
  • High school 31%
  • Less than high school 7%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Mechanical
  • Transportation
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Building and Construction

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.