WAGE DATA · SOC 53-7021
CRANE OPERATOR PAY
IN VIRGINIA.
Virginia crane operators earn a median of $31.44/hr (BLS 2024). 1,280 workers employed statewide. Compare market wages, federal prevailing rates, and per-diem baselines below.
// BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS · STATEWIDEOEWS · MAY 2024
HOURLY MEDIAN
$31.44/hr
MEAN HOURLY
$30.81/hr
ANNUAL MEDIAN
$65K
EMPLOYED
1,280
10th · $20.06MEDIAN · $31.4490th · $41.26
// DAVIS-BACON · FEDERAL PREVAILING WAGEDATA SOON
Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates for crane operators in Virginia will be imported from SAM.gov in our next data refresh. These are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — crucial for comparing offers against the federal floor.
// GSA PER DIEMDATA SOON
GSA per-diem rates for Virginia will be available in the next data refresh.
// ROADHAND COMMUNITY DATABE FIRST
What are workers actually earning?
Government data is a baseline. Real take-home pay — including per diem, OT rules, housing allowances — comes from workers on the ground. Submit your pay anonymously to help the next hand.
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CRANE OPERATOR PAY IN OTHER STATES
FAQ
How much does a crane operator earn in Virginia?+
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2024), crane operators in Virginia earn a median of $31.44/hr. That's roughly $65K/year for a full-time schedule at straight time.
What's the top pay for crane operators in Virginia?+
The top 10% of crane operators in Virginia earn more than $41.26/hr (BLS 2024). That represents experienced workers, supervisors, or those on high-per-diem travel contracts.
How many crane operators work in Virginia?+
BLS reports 1,280 crane operators employed in Virginia as of 2024. Numbers fluctuate with major construction cycles — when big projects like LNG terminals or data centers start, demand spikes.
Do crane operators in Virginia get per diem?+
Per diem is standard on travel contracts. The federal GSA baseline for Virginia is typically $150-$260/day depending on the city. Contractors may set their per diem higher or lower — if it's below the GSA floor, you're subsidizing the contractor's housing budget out of pocket.
What's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage?+
Davis-Bacon rates are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — base pay plus fringe benefits. Every contractor working a federal job must pay at least the Davis-Bacon rate for that county and trade. Private-sector jobs don't have to match, but many do as a competitive floor.