3 Reasons Crane Operator Is a Great Job

As Warren Buffet said, “The more you learn, the more you earn.” This quote couldn’t be more true when it comes to the construction industry. Construction workers with specialized skills receive higher pay and are also more in demand as the need for these skilled workers continues to grow.

While most people think of construction as involving manual labor and grit, there’s also an opportunity for professionals who can operate heavy machinery. In fact, crane operators play a key role in any construction project that involves cranes and other heavy machinery, such as bulldozers or excavators.

Becoming a crane operator may enable you to earn a better living. Keep reading to learn more about some of the reasons why you should consider a crane operator job:

1. Higher Pay

Crane operators earn a higher wage than most other construction workers. The median pay for crane operators in the United States is $53,000 annually, which comes out to approximately $25 an hour. Taking into consideration that crane operators usually work full-time hours, you can see the annual salary is relatively high.

Crane operators also get benefits like health and dental insurance, paid vacation, and sick days. The exact amount of benefits and salary will depend on the state you work in, the size of the company you work for, and the type of contract you have.

2. Variety of Positions

When most people think of a typical crane operator, they think of someone operating a large construction crane. However, there are many different types of cranes in the construction industry, like tower cranes, crawler cranes, and derricks. The operators of each of these types of cranes perform different functions.

Crane operators may also operate heavy construction equipment, such as bulldozers, excavators, or trucks, which are used in mining, road construction, and large-scale commercial construction projects.

As demand for these specialized workers increases, so too does the job security of crane operators.

3. Flexibility in Location

Construction jobs are available throughout the United States and in many other countries.

For example, if you work in the marine industry, you may be able to travel to different ports as ships are constructed or loaded and unloaded. If you work in construction, you may have the opportunity to work on projects in different states or even abroad.

If you’re interested in a career that will give you the flexibility of working in different locations, a crane operator job may be for you.

In Conclusion

With the ever-growing population and a need for new homes, businesses, roads, and bridges, construction is expected to grow steadily for the foreseeable future. Now that you know what it’s like to be a crane operator, you can decide which type of construction career to pursue.

West Coast Training offers special crane and heavy equipment training to construction workers and companies so they can implement best industry practices in their work.

So, if you’re ready to become a crane operator, call West Coast Training at (360)225-6787 and talk to one of our admissions counselors to learn more about our training programs.