All About Hoist and Winch Operators

Career Description Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.

Daily Life Of a Hoist & Winch Operator

• Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.
• Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
• Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
• Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
• Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
• Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.

Qualities of a Hoist & Winch Operator

Hoist and Winch Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Related Job Titles

• Jump Roll Operator
• Air Hoist Operator
• Rigging Up Man
• Electrical Traveling Overhead Crane Operator (ETOC Operator)
• Footman

What Kind of Hoist & Winch Operator Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 2,900 jobs in the United States for Hoist and Winch Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Hoist and Winch Operator. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Hoist & Winch Operator are Arkansas, Nebraska, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, or Washington. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Hoist & Winch Operator Salary

The salary for Hoist and Winch Operators ranges between about $28,420 and $110,430 a year.

Hoist and Winch Operators who work in Wyoming, Minnesota, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

How much do Hoist and Winch Operators make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$42,010
California	$57,950
Florida	$49,830
Indiana	$40,550
Kentucky	$43,450
Maryland	$48,830
Michigan	$36,570
Minnesota	$77,840
Nebraska	$35,760
New Mexico	$53,570
New York	$53,030
Ohio	$37,480
Oregon	$47,210
Pennsylvania	$45,360
Tennessee	$37,820
Texas	$43,100
Utah	$53,350
Virginia	$40,450
Washington	$57,850
West Virginia	$61,000
Wyoming	$79,320

Tools & Technologies Used by Hoist and Winch Operators

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Hoist and Winch Operators:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Data entry software

Becoming a Hoist & Winch Operator

What kind of Hoist and Winch Operator requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Hoist & Winch Operator?

Where Hoist and Winch Operators Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Hoist and Winch Operators work:

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being a Hoist and Winch Operator may also be interested in:

• Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.