Prevailing Wage for Crane and Tower Operators
Prevailing wage for Crane and Tower Operators (SOC 53-7021) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether you operate as a Crane Operator, Mobile Crane Operator, or Heavy Equipment Operator, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which U.S. city your worksite is in.
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Entry-level operators with limited crane or tower experience, typically under two years. Work is closely supervised, assignments are routine, and independent judgment on lift planning or load calculations is minimal. Most candidates entering on H-1B or E-3 sponsorship from overseas fall here.
Qualified operators with two or more years of hands-on crane or tower experience who handle standard lifts with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Crane and Tower Operators, reflecting typical journey-level hires on commercial and industrial job sites.
Experienced operators who independently manage complex lift operations, coordinate with riggers and signal persons, and may train junior crew. Often hold specialized certifications such as NCCCO credentials. Supervisors routinely rely on their judgment for non-standard or high-capacity lifts.
Fully competent operators in senior or lead roles: project crane superintendents, site crane coordinators, or senior heavy lift specialists responsible for lift planning, crew oversight, and compliance with OSHA and ASME B30 standards across multi-crane operations.
Prevailing Wage for Crane and Tower Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Crane and Tower Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your NCCCO certification maps to level
Employers frequently file LCAs at Level 1 for NCCCO-certified operators who should qualify as Level 2 or Level 3. Your certification type and boom rating are concrete evidence for a higher level; document them before your employer submits the LCA.
Watch for port and union-market wage gaps
Port Crane Operators in coastal metros like Urban Honolulu and New York face some of the widest spreads between entry and senior prevailing wages of any construction occupation. An offer benchmarked against inland crane rates may fall below the local DOL floor at those worksites.
Confirm the worksite city before comparing wages
Mobile Crane Operators often rotate across job sites in different metro areas. DOL requires the LCA wage to reflect the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters. A project in San Jose carries a different prevailing wage floor than one in Montgomery, Alabama.
Find employers who have sponsored crane roles before
Migrate Mate filters visa-sponsorship jobs by role and location and shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts, so you can see which construction and industrial firms have actually sponsored Crane and Tower Operators rather than relying on unverified job postings.
Jobs for Crane and Tower Operators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Crane and Tower OperatorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7021.00 alongside Crane and Tower Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Crane Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Heavy Equipment Operator Prevailing Wage
Heavy Equipment Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Heavy Equipment Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Mobile Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Mobile Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Mobile Crane Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Overhead Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Overhead Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Overhead Crane Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Port Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Port Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Port Crane Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Scrap Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Scrap Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Scrap Crane Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Winchman Prevailing Wage
Winchman Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Winchman for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Woodyard Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Woodyard Crane Operator Prevailing Wage
Woodyard Crane Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7021.00 (Crane and Tower Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Crane and Tower Operators?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Crane and Tower Operators using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, BLS surveys employer-reported wages for SOC 53-7021 and DOL's Office of Foreign Labor Certification converts those figures into four experience-based levels. Employers use the OFLC Wage Search tool to retrieve the certified rate for the specific worksite location before filing an LCA.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with routine tasks under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with some independent judgment, Level 3 as experienced with broad responsibility, and Level 4 as fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. Your level should reflect your actual duties, years of crane or tower experience, and any supervisory scope, not simply your job title. If your employer files at Level 1 but your duties match Level 2 or higher, the LCA may understate the required floor.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same crane operator role vary so much by city?
DOL derives prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, which capture local employer-reported pay for SOC 53-7021 in each metropolitan statistical area. High-demand markets with active port infrastructure, dense construction pipelines, or strong union presence, such as Urban Honolulu or the New York metro, produce higher survey medians than smaller inland markets. Critically, USCIS and DOL require the LCA to list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor follows the project location, not the employer's home office.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with DOL if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or E-3 petition built on an uncertified or noncompliant LCA. If a discrepancy surfaces after filing, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence. OFLC can also investigate and debar employers found to have underpaid sponsored workers, so both the petition and the employment relationship are at risk.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Crane and Tower Operators in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 53-7021 in any metropolitan area. Enter the occupation code and the worksite zip code or metro name, then select the wage level that matches your experience. You can also review publicly available LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages recent employers filed for Crane and Tower Operators in your target market. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have actively sponsored this role in specific locations.
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