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Crane & Tower Operators

Also called: Crane Operator, Overhead Crane Operator, Scrap Crane Operator, Mobile Crane Operator

What they do:
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
On the job, you would:
  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
  • Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
  • building and construction
Education and Training
  • teaching and course design
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Vision
  • decide which thing is closer or farther away from you or decide how far away it is from you
  • see details that are far away
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Data entry software
Inventory management software
  • Inventory tracking software
Industrial control software
  • Crane operation control software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
some college or
high school diploma
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$46,460
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about crane and tower operators.