The median annual wage for Crane and Tower Operators in Illinois is $53,240 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $70,720.
Pay spans roughly $40,150 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 $25.60 per hour. An estimated 1,100 people work as crane and tower operators in Illinois.
| Median (annual) | $53,240 |
| Mean (annual) | $70,720 |
| Median (hourly) | $25.60 |
| 10th percentile | $40,150 |
| 90th percentile | $137,150 |
| Employment | 1,100 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.