Crane drivers roles in the UK earn a median of £46,500 per year, equivalent to £18.17 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 1.2% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £37,500 in East Midlands to £54,500 in London. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £46,463/yr (0% above our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£46,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£18.17
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+1.2%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£38,500 – £
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Crane drivers across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| London | £54,500 |
| North West | £53,500 |
| Scotland | £47,000 |
| South East | £44,500 |
| South West | £44,500 |
| West Midlands | £44,000 |
| Wales | £44,000 |
| North East | £44,000 |
| East | £43,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £43,500 |
| East Midlands | £37,500 |
| UK | £46,500 |
Annual pay grew by +1.2% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Crane drivers.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Crane drivers in the UK is £46,500 per year (about £18.17 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Crane drivers earn between £38,500 and £ a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Crane drivers pay rose by 1.2% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Crane drivers is in London, at £54,500 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Crane drivers roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Crane drivers supervise and undertake the operation of cranes, jib cranes, power driven hoisting machinery and power driven stationary engines to raise and lower mine and other cages, and to lift and move equipment, materials, machinery and containers.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience operating other heavy machinery supplemented with short courses. Operators are required to hold a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card owned and administered by the National Open College Network (NOCN) group, demonstrating basic skills and safety awareness.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.