Hoist and Winch Operators
Also called Hoist Operator, Hoistman, Service Operator, or Winch Derrick Operator
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Hoist and Winch Operators do
You run the powered cable machine that lifts and drags loads too heavy for people, guided by hand signals, buzzers, and gauges.
A hoist or winch is a motor-driven drum that winds steel cable to lift a load straight up or pull it along the ground. You start the engine, work levers and pedals to let cable out or reel it in, and set brakes to lock the load in place. You also hook and unhook the cables, pick the right slings (the straps or cable loops that wrap around a load) and blocks (pulley parts that change the direction of the pull) for the weight and size of the job, and adjust or fix the gear with hand tools.
Most of the time you sit inside a cab or enclosed machine, watching dials and the marks painted on the cable that show how much has been let out. But you are rarely working alone. Someone on the ground gives you hand signals, or a whistle, bell, or loudspeaker tells you when to move. Safety rules matter here, so you stay focused and follow the signals.
A day in the life
You show up, put on your hard hat, boots, and other safety gear, and walk around the machine to check cables and gauges before you start. Then you climb into the cab. A worker on the ground signals, and you ease a lever to let cable unwind off the drum. You watch the load, the painted marks on the cable, and the dials all at once. Between lifts you climb down, attach lines with hand tools, move the wedges that keep loads from rolling or the jacks that hold heavy things up, and talk through the next move with the crew. Some waiting, some bursts of careful work. If the equipment sticks or drifts, you grease it, tighten it, or report it. At the end you lock the brakes and shut down.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Like running machines and working with your hands
- ✓Stay calm and focused during long stretches of watching and waiting
- ✓Pay close attention to signals and small changes in gauges
- ✓Want steady work that does not require a college degree
- ✓Enjoy fixing and adjusting equipment when it acts up
You might not like it if you…
- –Want a desk job away from noise, weather, and heavy equipment
- –Get bored sitting in a cab repeating careful, controlled moves
- –Dislike jobs where safety rules set the pace and every step is checked
- –Need a fast-growing field, since this one is projected to grow just +0.2% from 2025 to 2035 compared with +3.5% for all jobs, with about 300 openings a year
How people get in
- 1Finish high school if you can, though no formal educational credential is typically required to start.
- 2Look for entry-level work around heavy loads, such as helping ground crews on construction, shipping, mining, or industrial sites.
- 3Learn the hand signals, cable and sling basics, and rigging, which means attaching and securing loads so they can be lifted safely. Many people pick this up by working alongside experienced operators.
- 4Take the short-term on-the-job training your employer provides, moving from small lifts to heavier ones as you prove you are steady.
- 5Consider a heavy equipment operation program if you want more practice first, and ask your employer whether they expect any extra safety training before you operate on your own.
- 6Keep building nearby skills like forklift work or equipment maintenance, which can open doors over time.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Official task list
Hoist and Winch Operators operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment. (O*NET)
- 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.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Time Management
- Active Listening
- Operation and Control
What you'll need to know
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Public Safety and Security
How much Hoist and Winch Operators make
The median pay for Hoist and Winch Operators in the U.S. is $56,450 a year ($27.14 an hour). Most earn between $35,640 and $118,210. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in Illinois ($118,210) and lowest in Puerto Rico ($21,890).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $33,570 | 120 |
| Georgia | $37,870 | 90 |
| Hawaii | $107,100 | 120 |
| Illinois | $118,210 | 320 |
| Indiana | $39,750 | 120 |
| Maryland | $99,840 | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $62,240 | — |
| Michigan | $40,070 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | 60 |
| Missouri | $47,510 | 40 |
| New York | $74,980 | 110 |
| Ohio | $43,000 | — |
| Oregon | $55,880 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,890 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $39,930 | 40 |
| Virginia | $37,020 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $36,560 | 80 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Construction / Heavy Equipment / Earthmoving Equipment Operation 71 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 53-7041.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 53-7041. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.