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

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

1. Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.

2. Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, and placing loads.

3. Inspect cables and grappling devices for wear, and install or replace cables as needed.

4. Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, and grappling devices, making repairs as necessary.

5. Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms and lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions and damage.

6. Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking and outrigging under cranes.

7. Load and unload bundles from trucks, and move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.

8. Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.

9. Review daily work and delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, and special loading instructions.

10. Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays, and cover, uncover, and secure loads for delivery.

11. Inspect bundle packaging for conformance to regulations and customer requirements, and remove and batch packaging tickets.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

The college search results are undergraduate programs associated with Crane and Tower Operators. Further education may also be required to pursue this career.

The training search results include both short and long-term programs associated with Crane and Tower Operators, and may be more appropriate for adult and non-traditional students. Further training may also be required to pursue this career.

In NY the average wage for this occupation was:

$33,630 for entry level workers, and $62,890 for experienced workers.

Based on the total number of annual openings and its growth rate, the employment prospects for this occupation are described as Less Favorable.

During 2006, there were approximately 46,393 Crane and Tower Operators employed in US.

We estimate that in 2016 there will be 47,691  employed in US. This represents an increase of 0 job(s) each year, and a total of 20 job openings each year.

Cargo Specialists - Visit this link for information on this career in the military.

Material moving occupations - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators - Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or equipment used for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators - Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators - Operate railroad track switches. Couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Signal engineers by hand or flagging. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.

Dredge Operators - Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials from lakes, rivers, or streams; and to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators - Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.

Hoist and Winch Operators - Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.