O*NET-SOC 53-7021.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

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.

Estimated AI task exposure

Low exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

11 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

27/100

Physical moat

93/100

Human moat

20/100

Rating coverage

100%

11 task statements / 11 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.

Importance 94/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 86/100Weight 0.94

Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.

Importance 90/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.90

Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.

Importance 88/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.89

Inspect crane site conditions to determine ground stability.

Importance 94/100Relevance 93/100Frequency 68/100Weight 0.87

Inspect cables or grappling devices for wear and install or replace cables, as needed.

Importance 86/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 66/100Weight 0.86

Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.

Importance 90/100Relevance 83/100Frequency 84/100Weight 0.86

Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.

Importance 86/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 60/100Weight 0.85

Load or unload bundles from trucks, or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.

Importance 73/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 70/100Weight 0.83

Direct truck drivers backing vehicles into loading bays and cover, uncover, or secure loads for delivery.

Importance 83/100Relevance 66/100Frequency 65/100Weight 0.72

Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.

Importance 70/100Relevance 64/100Frequency 61/100Weight 0.66

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$68,080

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

42,890

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+3.8%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

4

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE