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Crane and Tower Operators

Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

What you’d do

  • 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 crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
  • Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
  • Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
  • Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
  • Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
  • Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.
  • Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.

Skills that matter

  • Operation and Control
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Crane Operator
  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Mobile Crane Operator
  • Overhead Crane Operator
  • Equipment Operator
  • Machine Operator

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