Hoist and winch operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,640 | $17.13 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $56,450 | $27.14 |
| Mean (average) | $67,710 | $32.55 |
| 90th percentile | $118,210 | $56.83 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Hoist and winch operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 18 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $33,570 | $28,070 | $74,130 | 120 | 0.75 |
| Georgia | $37,870 | $31,960 | $52,760 | 90 | 1.08 |
| Hawaii | $107,100 | $80,990 | $127,940 | 120 | 11.17 |
| Illinois | $118,210 | $118,210 | $118,210 | 320 | 3.1 |
| Indiana | $39,750 | $37,620 | $66,940 | 120 | 2.27 |
| Maryland | $99,840 | $79,550 | $99,840 | 140 | 3.03 |
| Massachusetts | $62,240 | $57,000 | $109,440 | ||
| Michigan | $40,070 | $32,010 | $56,290 | 50 | 0.62 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | $51,040 | $78,400 | 60 | 1.22 |
| Missouri | $47,510 | $46,160 | $56,450 | 40 | 0.89 |
| New York | $74,980 | $41,690 | $103,220 | 110 | 0.66 |
| Ohio | $43,000 | $38,050 | $43,890 | ||
| Oregon | $55,880 | $40,130 | $72,660 | 70 | 2.22 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,890 | $21,840 | $22,230 | 110 | 6.76 |
| Tennessee | $39,930 | $30,940 | $52,630 | 40 | 0.7 |
| Virginia | $37,020 | $29,550 | $45,970 | 40 | 0.54 |
| Washington | Data unavailable | 240 | 4.01 | ||
| Wisconsin | $36,560 | $34,720 | $41,690 | 80 | 1.54 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for hoist and winch operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 18.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for hoist and winch operators
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
- Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
- Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
- Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
- Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
- Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.
- 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.
- Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Hoist Operator, Hoisting Operator, Hoistman, Service Operator, Winch Derrick Operator, Winchman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hoist and winch operators make?
The national median annual wage for hoist and winch operators was $56,450 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,640 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $118,210. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do hoist and winch operators need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is hoist and winch operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of hoist and winch operators to change +0.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay hoist and winch operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Illinois ($118,210), Hawaii ($107,100), Maryland ($99,840). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.