Crane, hoist and related plant operators: Jobs in Demand in Europe (2025)

Pay in the UK for this job

UK occupation used: Crane drivers (SOC 2020 code 8221). Placeivo matched this to ISCO-08 8343 by job title and duties; the UK and international occupation lists do not line up exactly. National figure for the whole United Kingdom, in pounds sterling (GBP), before income tax and National Insurance.

Small sample: the ONS quality measure (coefficient of variation) is annual figure 13%, weekly figure 11%. ONS advises using estimates like this with caution.

Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional, Table 14 (occupation by 4-digit SOC 2020): tables 14.7a (annual pay, gross) and 14.1a (weekly pay, gross), full-time employee jobs, United Kingdom. Weekly pay is for April 2025; annual pay is for the tax year ending 5 April 2025, employees in the same job for at least a year. Retrieved 2026-10-13.

See the ONS earnings tables by occupation

UK Skilled Worker visa for this job

This occupation (UK code 8221, Crane drivers) is not eligible for the Skilled Worker visa, according to the GOV.UK list of eligible occupations. Placeivo matched this UK code to ISCO-08 8343 by job title; the lists do not line up exactly.

This is a summary of official rules, not legal advice. Rules change and some people (for example those already on a Skilled Worker visa) have different rules. Always check GOV.UK before you apply.

Source: UK Visas and Immigration, GOV.UK tables "Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes" and "Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes", updated 2025-07-22, retrieved 2026-10-15. General minimum salary from GOV.UK "Skilled Worker visa: Your job", checked 2026-10-15.

Compare UK visa going rates by job · Eligible occupations (GOV.UK) · Going rates (GOV.UK) · Salary rules (GOV.UK)

Latest crane, hoist and related plant operators job ads

Real vacancies from the official public employment services, updated daily. Job titles are translated into English automatically; the full ad opens on the official site in German or Swedish (your browser's translate button turns it into English).

• Crane operator
  German title: Kranführer
  Orizon GmbH, Niederlassung Hamburg · Hamburg · Posted 2026-10-16
• Crane operator
  German title: Kranführer
  WICO GmbH (Bochum) · Bochum · Posted 2026-10-16
• Crane operator
  German title: Kranführer
  KRUG Holzsystembinder GmbH · Stadtlauringen · Posted 2026-10-16
• Crane operator
  German title: Kranführer
  PANMA Personal GmbH · Siegen · Posted 2026-10-15
• Crane operator
  German title: Kranführer
  iperdi AHR GmbH - Niederlassung Hamburg · Hamburg · Posted 2026-10-15
• Crane operator
  German title: Kranführer
  TVS Personalservice GmbH · Leuna · Posted 2026-10-14

Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Germany

• High lifter driver wanted to Luleå | Immediate start
  Swedish title: Höglyftarförare sökes till Luleå | Omgående start
  N Kraft Bemanning AB · Luleå · Posted 2026-10-14
• Traverse driver
  Swedish title: Traversförare
  Ikett Personalpartner AB · Karlskrona · Posted 2026-10-12
• Pump machinist
  Swedish title: Pumpmaskinist
  Thomas Betong AB · Örebro · Posted 2026-10-09
• Traverse driver to customer in Uddevalla and the surrounding area
  Swedish title: Traversförare till kund i Uddevalla med omnejd
  Eterni Sweden AB · Uddevalla · Posted 2026-10-06
• Mobile Crane Operator
  Swedish title: Mobilkranförare
  Edins Byggkranar AB · Upplands-Bro · Posted 2026-10-06
• Tower Crane Operator
  Swedish title: Tornkranförare
  Edins Byggkranar AB · Upplands-Bro · Posted 2026-10-06

Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Sweden

Where crane, hoist and related plant operators are needed in Europe

Pay: Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean gross monthly earnings of all plant and machine operators and assemblers in each country, in euros. This is the average for the whole occupation group, not for crane, hoist and related plant operators alone, and before tax. * Firms with 10 or more employees only. Rent: Eurostat, good-quality 1-bedroom flat in the capital, 2025.

Finding crane, hoist and related plant operators jobs in Europe

• EURES is the official job portal of the EU public employment services. The search above looks for "Crane operator".
• Some jobs are regulated professions: before you can work, your qualification may need to be recognised in the new country.
• If you are not an EU/EEA citizen you will usually need a work permit or a visa such as the EU Blue Card. Check the rules of the country's immigration authority.