Description
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
Work Values
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Self-Control
- Cooperation
- Stress Tolerance
Tasks
- 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 and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information
Detailed Work Activities
- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Technology Skills
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Office suite software
- Operating system software
- Inventory management software
Abilities
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Depth Perception
- Far Vision
- Rate Control
Skills
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Rotating-Control CraneCertifying Organization
Electrical Industry Certifications Association
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Train-The-Trainer Mobile Crane OperatorCertifying Organization
Crane Institute of America
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Crane Operator - Lattice Boom CrawlerCertifying Organization
Crane Institute of America
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Telescopic Boom CraneCertifying Organization
International Union of Operating Engineers
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Mobile Crane OperatorCertifying Organization
National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $49,793 |
| Median (50%) | $61,572 |
| High (90%) | $74,605 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $58,592 |
| Mid Level | $66,834 |
| Senior Level | $71,723 |
| Expert Level | $71,597 |
Employability
There are currently 42,600 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 44,200 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 4%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 4%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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