Tower Crane Operator - Research pay range
State of Washington · class code 601D
- Class code
- 601D
- Salary range
- 62
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Tower Crane Operator - Research is $74,748 to $100,488 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 601D.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 62 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 | $98,064 | $100,488 |
| Monthly | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 | $8,172 | $8,374 |
| Hourly | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 | $46.97 | $48.13 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Positions in this series operate, maintain, and perform routine repairs on a Liebherr 550 HC or similar tower crane in support of forest canopy research. Distinguishing Characteristics This is the expert level of the series. Positions operate a tower crane to transport people and equipment to the forest canopy. Consults with researchers to develop work plans that meet research project needs. Ensures crane safety including knowledge of gondola rescue techniques. Conducts daily inspections of the crane and all related operating equipment prior to crane operation. Navigates load jib with gondola to specified sites within the forest canopy. Performs maintenance and repairs.
Examples of the work
Operates a Liebherr 550 HC or similar tower crane; Acts as Site Safety Officer and ensures the safe operation of the tower crane; Consults with researchers prior to operations to develop a work plan that meets the needs of the research project(s), maintains safety standards, and eliminates or minimizes damage to the research area; Practices and trains in vertical rope rescue and tree climbing; Performs all required crane inspections; Work with crane operation consultants to learn specifics of crane operation, maintenance and repair protocol; Directs other staff who support crane operation; Ensures that shop facilities used to support the maintenance, operation and repair of the crane and rel ...
Minimum qualifications
Positions require five years of experience operating Tower Cranes or equivalent training gained through a vocational school or other apprentice program.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.