The following will display statistics that show statistics for the annual salary of crane operators in California. These will cover previous years, the most current data (2025), and growth over the last 5 years.
The profession is considered healthy in demand and projects to have a growth of 3,280 new jobs from 2022 to 2032 (State of California, Employment Development Department).
2023 Statistics
How much do NCCCO certified crane operators make in California?
In 2023 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released statistics that ranked California 2nd highest in the nation for crane operators’ annual salary.
States with the highest employment level in Crane and Tower Operators:
Data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2025 Statistics
Current Salary Statistics for Crane Operators in California
In the United States as a whole the average salary for crane operators is $68,080 wheras California is $79,570.
California crane operators earn over $10,000 more and roughly 17% more than the national median, making California one of the highest-paying states for crane operators.
Data collected from the O-Net Online.
Data collected from the California EDD/BLS.
2021 – 2025
California Crane Operator’s Salary Growth Over Time
The wage for crane operators in California has grown from $69,000 annually to over $79,000 annually in 5 years.
That’s a growth of approximately 15% in 5 years or 3% per year.
*These figures illustrate the steady upward trend seen in California’s OEWS wage estimates. Exact annual values vary slightly depending on the survey year and methodology, but the overall increase is well supported by state and federal wage data.
Data collected from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).
Crane Operator Annual Salaries by City (California)
Data collected from the O-Net Online.