what is a crane operator?
A crane operator controls hoisting equipment like clamps, elevating platforms, and forklifts to move products or people. As a crane operator, you assist with transporting materials to a worksite or warehouse. You load or unload trucks, depending on the crane you are using.
Crane operators also control movement platforms that carry people around a worksite. For instance, you control the platform transporting workers to vast heights or depths at a construction or mining site. Operating a crane requires great skill to maneuver the load to the right spot. After moving each shipment, you update the log and record the items or workers you moved at a particular time. You also carry out maintenance and repair tasks on crane equipment.
As a crane operator, you work on large-scale construction projects like high rises and major infrastructure jobs. You could also find work in quarries, mining sites, and manufacturing companies with large warehouses. Apart from mechanical aptitude, it would help to have the physical stamina to work in industrial settings for long hours. Your job also requires concentration when maneuvering the crane.
Would working as a crane operator suit your mechanical and concentration skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a crane operator role.
view jobs near youaverage crane operator salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a crane operator is $65,220 per year. In an entry-level role, you take home a lower salary yearly. As you improve your skills and experience, your earnings increase gradually, and the highest salary in the role could exceed $93,410 annually.
The remuneration package depends on your experience, skills, and qualifications. While crane operators do not require extensive academic qualifications, they rely on experience and skills. When you have been working in the role for a couple of years, you develop expertise that increases your salary significantly.
The industry you work in also affects your earnings. For instance, working for the construction industry boost your chances of earning a higher salary due to the risks involved. Mining industries also pay lucrative salaries to crane operators. If you work for a large company, the unlimited resources at their disposal boost your salary prospects.
Wondering what you can earn as a crane operator? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary checker! You can quickly and easily see what the average salary of a crane operator is.
types of crane operators
Some of the specialization options for crane operators include:
- dogman crane operator: The dogman/rigger is responsible for the safe rigging of the load and directing the lifting and placing operations by the crane
- rigger crane operator: A rigger crane operator is responsible for setting up pulleys, cables, ropes, and other equipment to lift large and heavy objects. The role of a rigger varies depending on the industry in which they work.
- general crane operator: Your job is to lift or move material around a construction site using cranes. You monitor crane stability and work with an assistant to ensure the safe movement of products on a worksite.
working as a crane operator
Working as a crane operator is an exciting career with specific duties, work schedules, and work environments. Explore the daily operations of a crane operator.
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crane operator job description
The specific tasks of crane operators vary depending on the industry. However, some typical duties include:
- testing the operational capabilities of the crane: As a crane operator, you ensure the cranes are in good working condition before a lift. It is essential to test the operation of the machinery before use to ascertain the safety of the workers or items you ferry on the crane.
- preparing the site and loads for a lift: As a crane operator, you coordinate the work site preparation for a crane. This includes marking reference points on the floors and working with construction riggers to position the hooks or lift the loads to the crane for transport. You also inspect the loads to be lifted and document any defects. You decide if the load poses a danger to workers and act accordingly. It is also important to ensure proper load alignment to improve the safety of the loading and unloading crew.
- operating the controls for cranes: Working as a crane operator, you control the movements of the cranes. The job involves rotating or moving cranes on fixed rails and raising or lowering the jibs and booms. You also control the movement of the load and determine the acceleration speed and braking time. Since you operate the controls, you regularly check the gauges and instruments for malfunctions and other problems that pose a risk to workers or equipment.
- maintaining crane equipment: A crane operator is responsible for lubricating the moving parts of a crane and the ropes. You also replace worn cables and clean the equipment after use.
- measuring load weights: As a crane operator, you assist in checking the weights of the materials and products during loading and unloading. These checks ensure the products have proper weight.
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crane operator work environment
As a crane operator, your work settings are typically mines, construction sites, and manufacturing units. Sometimes you work outdoors in harsh weather conditions and uncomfortable work environments. Since you may work during summer or winter, it is important to dress for the weather and the job. This means you should wear hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and other protective clothing. You are also likely to be exposed to loud noises, fumes, and dust. Therefore, it is best if you have facemasks and earmuffs. You should also note that you may work in confined spaces like mines and quarries occasionally.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues could include riggers, trade assistants, and construction workers. You might also be working close to warehouse operators, warehouse workers, and warehouse managers, as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not limited to, forklift drivers, machine operators, site supervisors, and site managers.
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work schedule
Crane operators work full-time schedules to meet the demands of their work. You likely work 50 hours a week, but some companies have 24/7 shift schedules for construction or mining projects. The shifts last 12 hours a day, and you may clock in a few overtime hours daily to complete the day's tasks and prepare reports. While part-time positions are rare, some companies with small-scale projects hire part-time crane operators. You could also work on short-term contracts or on a project basis.
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job outlook for crane operator
Crane operators can improve their skills and experience and become senior crane operators. Alternatively, you could also become a consultant in the construction and mining industries. Some crane operators focus on maintaining and repairing crane equipment and cranes, and they could become maintenance technicians or engineers over time. As a crane operator, you diversify your role and operate different material-moving machines, like becoming a dredge operator. Alternatively, you could learn how to operate different construction equipment like paving equipment for laying concrete or other heavy equipment operations.
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benefits of working for randstad as a crane operator
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a crane operator is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
crane operator skills and education
Although working as a crane operator can be challenging, it is a job you should still consider because it pays well and does not need years of advanced study. The steps to becoming a crane operator vary, depending on how far you want to go in this career. You could opt for basic crane operator courses and join an apprenticeship program after that. Alternatively, you could go for more advanced certifications and training to have the skills to operate the most specialized and sophisticated equipment, such as mobile cranes and boom trucks.
Cranes are powerful, expensive, and advanced machines that require the basics of science, technology, math, and reading to operate safely and maintain effectively. That said, you need a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) to become a crane operator. Once you are done with your GED or high school diploma, you could enroll in a trade school to get the training needed to develop the highly specialized skills required to work in the trades.
Certification is an essential component when it comes to crane operator training, and some companies may require a license issued by the state before they hire you as a crane operator. Most states across the country recognize the exams that the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) administer. Needless to say, it is important that you consider taking this type of exam so your career growth as a crane operator can be smooth sailing.
crane operator skills and competencies
Research shows that the U.S. only has around 44,000 crane operators, which means the job opportunities in this industry are lucrative. But as a crane operator, you need to have some skillsets to be successful. These include:
- communication skills: You should be able to communicate effectively with supervisors to determine work schedules and daily tasks.
- awareness and alertness: As a crane operator, you need to be alert and aware of your surrounding at all times to ensure safe maneuvering of the crane.
- hand-eye coordination skill: Another skillset you should have as a crane operator is hand-eye coordination, which involves processing the information using your sight and then using your hand to promptly perform tasks related to the information you processed.
- patience: As a crane driver, you should learn to be patient and able to remain calm in stressful situations. This can help prevent you from making rush decisions that may have irreversible consequences.
FAQs about working as a crane operator
Here, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about crane operators.
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what are the safety responsibilities of a crane operator?
One of the key safety responsibilities of a crane operator is to ensure you are always in your personal safety equipment every time you are operating a crane. You should also observe all the rules and follow guidelines to prevent crane hazards due to a crane’s fault.
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how do crane drivers operate cranes?
To operate a crane, you have to sit inside what is referred to as a cab. Once here, you would find controls for maneuvering the crane.
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as a crane operator, how do I get up and down the crane?
Getting up and down a crane may seem challenging. Fortunately, this is never the case; thanks to a ladder inside the tower. The ladder can be hundreds of feet high, and you are supposed to climb it to get up.
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why is certification important in crane operation?
Certification improves crane operation safety. That is why it is highly recommended by states across the country. Research shows that a certification program can help reduce injuries and fatalities related to crane operations.
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when and where should I take NCCCO exams?
NCCCO exams are written and are normally held on demand when requested by employer organization testing companies, unions, and employers, among others. These exams are held at sites across the country.
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how do I find a job as a crane operator?
Applying for a crane operator job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our data engineer jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state of the art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
