The light from your computer screen is a bit strange. And it's not just because of the websites you visit. If you have a computer with a flat screen liquid crystal display, turn it on. Open your word processor to display the writer's block screen (pure white).
Crane operators employed primarily in nonresidential building construction made somewhat less, an average of $53,070 a year. Those who worked in mining averaged $47,010 per year, and those employed by iron and steel mills made an average of $45,710 per year.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median wage for heavy equipment operators in the United States is $41,870, an hourly wage of $20.13 per hour, as of May 2012. The average nationwide for those who operate bulldozers, backhoes, cranes and road grading machinery is slightly higher than the median, at $46,270 per year, or $22.24 per hour.