What does a Crane and Tower Operators salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Crane and Tower Operators earning $68,310 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $74,008 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,310 | $49,089 | +$3,779 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $54,170 | $58,689 | +$4,519 |
| Median (P50) | $68,310 | $74,008 | +$5,698 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $99,110 | $107,378 | +$8,268 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $104,900 | $113,651 | +$8,751 |
A Crane and Tower Operators in Wisconsin earns $68,310 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $74,008 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Crane and Tower Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wisconsin ranks #18 out of 49 states for Crane and Tower Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Crane and Tower Operators in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $68,310 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $74,008 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Crane and Tower Operators in Wisconsin: $68,310 x (100 / 92.3) = $74,008. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Crane and Tower Operators in Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.