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Will AI replace 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. The percentage shown is a task-exposure model, not a prediction of certain job loss.

O*NET 30.3 · 53-7021.00 · modeled exposure, not guaranteed job loss
MODERATE TASK EXPOSURE
47%
Estimated share of representative tasks exposed to current AI capabilities.
Task automation shareⓘ
47%Automatable
Automatable47%
Augmentable27%
Hard to automate26%
Based on analysis of representative responsibilities and current AI capability maturity.
Category#
Trades & Physical
Field & Physical
Modeled pay midpoint$
$97,700/yr
Directional estimate — verify locally
Time until impact⌁
2–4 years
Earliest 2027 · widespread 2029–2031
Task-level replaceability ⓘ
Representative tasks ranked from highest to lowest AI exposure.
◇Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.57%
⚙Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.46%
▥Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.34%
✦Physical dexterity in unpredictable settings18%
✦Safety responsibility and on-site judgment14%
Impact timeline ⓘ
How AI assistance may move from early support to wider adoption.
2027Next2029–2031
Early impactAI begins supporting determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload..
Role reshapingRepeatable tasks become faster and more automated.
Wider adoptionThe role centers more on physical dexterity in unpredictable settings.
2–4 yearsdirectional confidence window
HOW AI CHANGES THIS JOBtyping the logic in plain English
01>Start with the real work done by Crane and Tower Operators.
02>AI can help with: Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
03>If a task is repetitive and easy to check, AI pressure goes up.
04>But a person is still needed for: Physical dexterity in unpredictable settings.
05>Likely result: AI is more likely to change this job than remove it.
06>Important: 47% is estimated task exposure—not a 47% chance of losing the job.
What AI can do
Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.MEDIUM
Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.MEDIUM
Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.LOW MATCH
How estimates work →
Your human moat
◆

Physical dexterity in unpredictable settings

MEDIUM-HIGH

Combined with safety responsibility and on-site judgment, this keeps a human in the loop.

Strength8.4
Similar-role comparison
RoleRisk
Crane and Tower Operators47%
Machinists47%
Light Truck Drivers47%
Bus Drivers, School46%
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Why this score?

✓The model evaluates 3 representative core tasks.
✓The role mixes repeatable work with human judgment.
✓Occupation and task language comes from O*NET 30.3.
✓The strongest human advantage is physical dexterity in unpredictable settings.
Research basis

O*NET 30.3 occupation tasks plus the ILO 2025 exposure framework. Scores are directional estimates.

Read ILO research →
Data: O*NET 30.3 · Model framework: ILO 2025About O*NETShare report
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