Forklift & Industrial Truck Operators vs Crane & Tower Operators
Median pay is about $22k higher for Crane & Tower Operators. The usual entry education is no formal credential for Forklift & Industrial Truck Operators and high school for Crane & Tower Operators.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Forklift & Industrial Truck Operators | Crane & Tower Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $46,420 | $68,080, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $40,030 | $52,600, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $54,770 | $83,200, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +1.5% Growing | +3.8% Growing, higher |
| Openings a year | 64,700 | 3,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.6 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 31st pct | 57th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Forklift & Industrial Truck Operators
- Writing
Only Crane & Tower Operators
- Active Learning
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.