The light from your computer screen is a bit strange. And it's not just because of the websites you visit. If you have a computer with a flat screen liquid crystal display, turn it on. Open your word processor to display the writer's block screen (pure white).
Crane operators employed primarily in nonresidential building construction made somewhat less, an average of $53,070 a year. Those who worked in mining averaged $47,010 per year, and those employed by iron and steel mills made an average of $45,710 per year.
Pay by Region. The Northeast and the West were the two highest-paying regions for crane operators in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Alaska ranked first among the states, with an average annual salary of $77,800, followed by Washington at $73,270, Nevada at $71,490, Hawaii at $68,390, and California at $67,520.