The median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $57,740 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $68,870.
Pay spans roughly $43,010 at the 10th percentile to $137,150 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $27.76 per hour. An estimated 1,210 people work as crane and tower operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $57,740 |
| Mean (annual) | $68,870 |
| Median (hourly) | $27.76 |
| 10th percentile | $43,010 |
| 90th percentile | $137,150 |
| Employment | 1,210 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.