Crane and Tower Operators
Machines can already do 23% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 61%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Crane and Tower Operators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 23% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 61% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 42,890 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $68,080 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 85% for contact with people.
- Also called: Crane Operator, Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Machine Operator.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads | 52% | 20% to 60% | |
| Inspect crane site conditions to determine ground stability | 11% | 25% to 65% | |
| Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment | 9% | 30% to 75% | |
| Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload | 4% | 60% to 90% | |
| Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes | 3% | 10% to 27% | |
| Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed | 3% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills crane and tower operators use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $61,290
- Boilermakers59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $76,410
- Helpers--Extraction Workers55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,730
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,880
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Crane and Tower Operators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of crane and tower operators?
Machines can do 23% of the tasks of crane and tower operators today and 61% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 53-7021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Crane and Tower Operators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/crane-and-tower-operators/