--- title: "Crane Operator Programs in North Carolina: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/north-carolina/ description: "Crane Operator pay in North Carolina: BLS average $65,620 (all experience levels), median $64,480, bottom 10% $46,530. 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. North Carolina North Carolina # Crane Operator programs in *North Carolina* No crane operator programs are listed in North Carolina in the federal files we use yet, plus BLS pay data for the state and 8 metro areas. - **$65,620** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$46,530** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$64,480** Median pay (state) - **$82,730** Top 10% earn over 1,050 jobs in North Carolina · 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 North Carolina 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | North Carolina | $46,530 | $55,070 | $64,480 | $77,670 | $82,730 | $65,620 | 1,050 | | 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $53,440 | $62,550 | $73,710 | $79,320 | $82,860 | $70,350 | 40 | | Rocky Mount, NC | $58,590 | $65,200 | $73,420 | $78,400 | $94,120 | $72,270 | 30 | | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $54,760 | $60,540 | $72,520 | $84,280 | $91,320 | $72,700 | 170 | | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,430 | $66,600 | $71,400 | $77,630 | $87,400 | $71,430 | 430 | | Wilmington, NC | $56,670 | $59,220 | $68,670 | $77,670 | $85,870 | $69,620 | 60 | | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,120 | $49,720 | $67,280 | $79,620 | $81,360 | $64,990 | 100 | | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $43,090 | $56,820 | $64,730 | $76,080 | $76,080 | $64,280 | 80 | | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,410 | $53,840 | $63,300 | $77,320 | $82,730 | $64,610 | 300 | 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/nc/) ## 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/north-carolina/ 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.