Hoist and Winch Operators Career, Salary and Skills
Hoist and Winch Operators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $56,450 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 2,600. Wage data is published for 25 locations.
Occupation description
Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
O*NET code
53-7041.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$56,450
Hourly median
$27.14
Employment
2,600
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$35,640
10th
$42,690
25th
$56,450
Median
$94,350
75th
$118,210
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 2.62 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 2.62 |
| Time Management | 3.50 | 2.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 2.38 |
| Operation and Control | 3.38 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.25 | 2.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 2.50 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 2.25 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 2.25 |
Typical tasks
- Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
- 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.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Hoist and Winch Operators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in ILMedian $118,210 · Employment 320
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $118,210 · Employment 300
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $74,840 · Employment 160
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in MDMedian $99,840 · Employment 140
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in Baltimore, MDMedian $99,840 · Employment 130
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in INMedian $39,750 · Employment 120
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in HIMedian $107,100 · Employment 120
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in FLMedian $33,570 · Employment 120
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in PRMedian $21,890 · Employment 110
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in NYMedian $74,980 · Employment 110
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in GAMedian $37,870 · Employment 90
- Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in WIMedian $36,560 · Employment 80
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.