How to become a crane driver
Official title: Crane drivers
Also called: Crane man, Tip driver, Drum driver, Grab driver, Lift driver, Skip driver, Crane driver, Hoist driver, Paddy driver, Winch driver, Crane tenter, Gantry driver
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.
Main tasks
- Gives signals for movement of cage carrying workers/equipment
- Starts crane or engine motor and checks that cables run freely and that brakes and drum(s) are working
- Manipulates levers, switches and pedals to rotate jibs into position and turns winding drum to raise or lower hook, bucket or other holding equipment
- Lifts load or cage, or hauls object into required position and lowers or positions for ground workers to detach, unload or load
- Watches control panel for warning lights and indications of wind speed and direction and carrying capacity of crane
- Oils and greases machine and checks ropes
How to become one
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.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Lifting technician (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0267.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £46,463 a year The middle half earn £38,942 to null.
- About 13,100 people work in this job now, and about 13,000 are projected by 2035. (-0.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a crane driver?
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.
How much does a crane driver earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £46,463 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a crane driver a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 13,100 people now and 13,000 later (Department for Education).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03