Texas
Crane Operator programs in Texas
7 listed crane operator programs in Texas, plus BLS pay data for the state and 17 metro areas.
- $69,650Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $42,790Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $73,280Median pay (state)
- $93,390Top 10% earn over
6,010 jobs in Texas · 7 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
Cities with listed programs
BLS wage data
Crane Operator pay in Texas
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $42,790 | $57,020 | $73,280 | $79,880 | $93,390 | $69,650 | 6,010 |
| United States | $42,640 | $52,600 | $68,080 | $83,200 | $103,570 | $72,130 | 42,890 |
Metro areas
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $63,270 | $74,740 | $79,220 | $80,950 | $91,720 | $78,410 | 150 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $36,980 | $58,220 | $76,010 | $76,260 | $93,630 | $68,080 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $38,680 | $55,010 | $75,500 | $81,270 | $99,050 | $70,810 | 2,100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $47,750 | $61,370 | $75,360 | $88,900 | $99,560 | $74,370 | 230 |
| Odessa, TX | $55,030 | $62,810 | $75,310 | $82,160 | $88,970 | $74,020 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $51,730 | $64,960 | $74,200 | $76,740 | $76,780 | $71,520 | 330 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $45,450 | $61,760 | $73,050 | $76,130 | $88,420 | $68,190 | 240 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,290 | $53,410 | $68,640 | $79,670 | $91,940 | $69,630 | 1,310 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $44,190 | $57,630 | $68,200 | $77,160 | $93,200 | $67,520 | 270 |
| El Paso, TX | $40,780 | $51,450 | $62,280 | $72,230 | $86,800 | $62,230 | 120 |
| Waco, TX | $34,190 | $50,680 | $61,350 | $74,450 | $94,030 | $63,070 | 50 |
| Longview, TX | $38,410 | $45,820 | $60,830 | $73,530 | $76,490 | $61,370 | — |
Programs
Listed programs in Texas
Every crane operator program we matched in Texas. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boss Crane and Rigging | Longview, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Express Crane and Rigging | Houston, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Allegiance Crane & Equipment | Houston, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Circle 8 Crane Services | Robstown, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Sterling Crane, LLC | Baytown, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Tilghman Crane and Transport | Texas City, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| TNT Crane & Rigging Inc., and its affiliated entities | Houston, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
Browse by city
Related resources
Keep researching
GI Bill heavy equipment operator schoolsSchools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.comCDL schools, if your crane job involves drivingTruck-mounted crane work on public roads can require a CDL; check the employer. · VerifiedCDLSchools.comRegistered apprenticeships in TexasThe full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com
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; data tables). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03.
- Occupation: O*NET OnLine, 53-7021.00 Crane and Tower Operators, 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).
- 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; CIP-SOC crosswalk).
- 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).
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.