--- title: "Crane Operator Programs in California: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/california/ description: "Crane Operator pay in California: BLS average $87,030 (all experience levels), median $79,570, bottom 10% $50,550. 0 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Crane Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/) 4. California California # Crane Operator programs in *California* No crane operator programs are listed in California in the federal files we use yet, plus BLS pay data for the state and 10 metro areas. - **$87,030** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$50,550** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$79,570** Median pay (state) - **$135,820** Top 10% earn over 2,130 jobs in California · 0 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. BLS wage data ## Crane Operator pay in California Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California | $50,550 | $66,620 | $79,570 | $100,860 | $135,820 | $87,030 | 2,130 | | United States | $42,640 | $52,600 | $68,080 | $83,200 | $103,570 | $72,130 | 42,890 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,550 | $72,900 | $98,410 | $138,370 | $154,510 | $104,910 | 240 | | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $49,420 | $76,340 | $81,490 | $135,430 | $135,820 | $94,960 | 590 | | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $67,320 | $73,320 | $79,720 | $79,790 | $124,080 | $82,580 | 210 | | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,210 | $78,310 | $78,310 | $78,310 | $86,420 | $75,900 | 50 | | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $50,170 | $62,240 | $78,140 | $79,050 | $90,420 | $73,680 | 260 | | Fresno, CA | $64,510 | $72,940 | $77,330 | $130,120 | $134,650 | $91,850 | 50 | | Vallejo, CA | $67,060 | $67,060 | $77,320 | $90,250 | $126,360 | $84,000 | 30 | | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,330 | $60,340 | $77,130 | $93,980 | $132,400 | $83,410 | 50 | | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $61,340 | $61,410 | $70,840 | $79,410 | $115,780 | $76,190 | 160 | | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,940 | $47,960 | $64,500 | $79,610 | $96,460 | $69,400 | 170 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## No listed programs yet We found no school or registered sponsor for this trade in California in the IPEDS 2023-24 completions file or the DOL partner file. Programs in neighboring states may enroll out-of-state students; see the [national list](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/). Related resources ## Keep researching [**GI Bill heavy equipment operator schools** Schools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/heavy-equipment-operator/) [**CDL schools, if your crane job involves driving** Truck-mounted crane work on public roads can require a CDL; check the employer. · VerifiedCDLSchools.com](https://verifiedcdlschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in California** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [53-7021.00 Crane and Tower Operators](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-7021.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/california/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.