Occupation Summary

Crane and Tower Operators

O*NET 53-7021.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$67,384.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 11.68%.
Education Level:
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). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  2. Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  3. Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
  4. Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
  5. Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
  6. Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
  7. Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.
  8. Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.
  9. Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
  10. Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.
  11. Inspect bundle packaging for conformance to regulations or customer requirements, and remove and batch packaging tickets.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Crane and Tower Operators employed Annual Growth Rate
Other specialty trade contractors 21.2 -0.10
Support activities for water transportation 12 0.00
Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing 5 -0.42
Nonresidential building construction 3 0.69
Building foundation and exterior contractors 2.9 0.69
Utility system construction 2.6 0.00
Highway, street, and bridge construction 2.5 0.00


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $32.40
2023 National average hourly wage $32.71
2022 National employment 48,400
2022 Texas employment 7,706
Texas projected employment by 2032 8,606
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 838




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
71.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
60.00%
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
58.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
58.20%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
55.40%
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
54.20%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
52.00%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
51.00%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
49.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
48.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
77.60%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
75.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
65.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
62.40%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
62.40%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
60.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
60.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
60.00%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
60.00%
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
57.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
82.40%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
80.00%
Depth Perception
The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
77.60%
Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
77.60%
Rate Control
The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
75.00%
Reaction Time
The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
75.00%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
72.40%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
72.40%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
70.00%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
70.00%


  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Acoustic ear muffs or defenders: Protective ear muffs;

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrenches;

All terrain cranes: All-terrain cranes;

Anemometers: Anemometers;

Angle grinder: Angle grinders;

Ball peen hammer: Ball peen hammers;

Below the hook device: Lifting magnets; Anti-two block devices; Spreader beams; Tower attachments;

Bench vises: Bench vises;

Blocks or pulleys: Hook blocks;

Blow torch: Oxyacetylene torches; Propane torches;

Box end wrenches: Closed-end wrenches;

Bridge cranes: Bridge cranes; Gantry cranes;

Calipers: Vernier calipers;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Demolition equipment kits: Overhaul balls; Iron balls;

Demolition hammers: Demolition hammers;

Draglines: Dragline buckets;

Drum grabs: Barrel clamps;

Ear plugs: Protective ear plugs;

Earthmoving buckets or its parts or accessories: Clamshell buckets; Orange peel buckets;

Floor or platform scales: Floor scales;

Force or torque sensors: Load monitoring indicators; Rated load indicators;

Forklifts: Forklifts; Pallet forks;

Goggles: Safety goggles;

Grapples: Timber tongs;

Grease guns: Grease guns;

Hazardous material protective apparel: Survival suits;

Hoists: Chain falls;

Hydraulic truck cranes: Hydraulic truck-mounted cranes; Cab cranes;

Impact wrenches: Electric impact wrenches;

Jacks: Hydraulic jacks;

Jib crane: Jib cranes;

Lifting hooks: Wedge sockets; Load hooks; Lifting clamps; Clips;

Linear position sensors: Boom length indicators;

Needlenose pliers: Needlenose pliers;

Oil gun: Oilcans;

Open end wrenches: Open end wrenches;

Paint sprayers: Paint application sprayers;

Pile drivers: Drop hammers; Pile drivers;

Pneumatic impact wrenches: Pneumatic impact wrenches;

Power drills: Power drills;

Pressure or steam cleaners: Power washers; Steam cleaning equipment;

Pry bars: Pry bars;

Pullers: Comealongs;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Drift pins; Punches;

Ratchets: Ratchet sets;

Respirators: Respirators;

Rotary position sensors: Boom angle indicators;

Rough terrain cranes: Rough-terrain cranes;

Safety glasses: Safety glasses;

Safety harnesses or belts: Fall arrest harnesses;

Screwdrivers: Robertson screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers;

Shackle: Shackles;

Sledge hammer: Sledgehammers;

Slings: Lifting slings;

Slip or groove joint pliers: Slip joint pliers;

Specialty wrenches: Spud wrenches;

Tape measures: Measuring tapes;

Tinners snips: Snips;

Tire pressure gauge: Tire pressure gauges;

Touch screen monitors: Wireless touch screen monitors;

Tower cranes: Ringer cranes; Luffing jib cranes; Friction cranes;

Track cranes: Crawler cranes; Monorail cranes;

Track excavators: Excavators;

Turnbuckles: Turnbuckles;

Two way radios: Two way radios;

Wear testers: Wear gauges;

Welding masks: Welding masks;

Wire brushes: Wire brushes;

Wire cutters: Wire rope cutters;


Technology

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Industrial control software: Crane operation control software;

Inventory management software: Inventory tracking software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Microsoft Windows;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Crane and Tower Operators include:
  • 47-5041.00 Continuous Mining Machine Operators
  • 47-5022.00 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
  • 53-7041.00 Hoist and Winch Operators
  • 53-7051.00 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
  • 47-5044.00 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
  • 49-3042.00 Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
  • 47-2073.00 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
  • 47-2072.00 Pile Driver Operators
  • 49-9096.00 Riggers
  • 53-7121.00 Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.