Career Overview
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Also Known As
- Crane Operator
- Mobile Crane Operator
- Overhead Crane Operator
- Scrap Crane Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- Acid Crane Operator
- Boom Cat Operator
- Boom Crane Operator
- Boomswing Operator
- Bottom Crane Operator
- Bridge Crane Operator
- Burial Vault Deliverer and Installer
- Cantilever Crane Operator
- Cathead Operator
- Cell Tower Technician (Cell Tower Tech)
- Certified Crane Operator
- Charging Crane Operator
- Cherry Picker Operator
- Cinder Dump Crane Operator
- Cinder Pit Crane Operator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Inspect crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Depth Perception
- Far Vision
- Reaction Time
- Rate Control
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Response Orientation
- Manual Dexterity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable wrenches
- All-terrain cranes
- Anemometers
- Angle grinders
- Anti-two block devices
- Ball peen hammers
- Barrel clamps
- Bench vises
- Boom angle indicators
- Boom length indicators
- Bridge cranes
- Cab cranes
- Chain falls
- Clamshell buckets
- Claw hammers
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $41,670 |
| Median | $66,370 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $102,400 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 42,000
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Hoist and Winch Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,310
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,390
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $63,980
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,550
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,710
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.