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Hoist and Winch Operators: Career Overview
Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
The Daily Work of Hoist and Winch Operators Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of hoist and winch operators span:
- Move levers, pedals, and throttles to stop, start, and regulate speeds of hoist or winch drums in response to hand, bell, buzzer, telephone, loud-speaker, or whistle signals, or by observing dial indicators or cable marks.
- Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
- Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
- Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
- Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
- Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
- Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
- Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective hoist and winch operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Hoist and Winch Operators Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Air Hoist Operator
- Air Lift Operator
- Boat Hoist Operator
- Boat Loader
- Boat Puller
- Bridge Rigger
- Building Rigger
- Cable Operator
How Many Hoist and Winch Operators Are There?
There are roughly 906,892 hoist and winch operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -0.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Hoist and Winch Operators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,937 |
| Hourly median | $23.53 |
| 10th percentile | $28,471 |
| 25th percentile | $38,704 |
| 75th percentile | $59,169 |
| 90th percentile | $69,402 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Hoist and Winch Operators Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $116,120 |
| Hawaii | $100,940 |
| Nevada | $90,120 |
| Maryland | $87,760 |
| Wyoming | $73,840 |
| West Virginia | $65,930 |
| Minnesota | $65,680 |
| Massachusetts | $61,720 |
| Alabama | $59,220 |
| New York | $58,980 |
| Oregon | $55,710 |
| Idaho | $50,530 |
| Alaska | $48,930 |
| Washington | $47,680 |
| Missouri | $46,680 |
| Virginia | $44,310 |
| Tennessee | $42,000 |
| Florida | $38,910 |
| Indiana | $38,370 |
| Wisconsin | $37,610 |
| Georgia | $37,590 |
| Ohio | $37,300 |
| Texas | $36,420 |
| South Carolina | $35,970 |
| Michigan | $34,460 |
| Mississippi | $22,150 |
| Kentucky | $17,330 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for hoist and winch operators differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $87,760 | 8.0% | 3.67 |
| Great Lakes | $78,667 | 29.6% | 2.64 |
| Plains States | $65,680 | 3.5% | 1.55 |
| Far Western US | $65,433 | 22.1% | 5.04 |
| Rocky Mountains | $60,890 | 4.5% | 5.47 |
| Southeast | $41,373 | 28.1% | 1.68 |
| Southwest | $36,420 | 4.0% | 0.37 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $141,930 | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $116,120 | 290 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $96,030 | |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $90,200 | 150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $65,680 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $47,680 | 140 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $45,480 | 80 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $37,180 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of hoist and winch operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 830 | $40,110 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 540 | $76,720 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 170 | $66,280 |
| Construction | 140 | $61,480 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 120 | $34,780 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 60 | $56,760 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 30 | $74,650 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for hoist and winch operators is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Most hoist and winch operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Supplemental)
- Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Primary-Short)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (Supplemental)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future hoist and winch operators often complete programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-7041.00 (Hoist and Winch Operators).
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