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Hoist and Winch Operators

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $56,450 Median per year · $27.14/hr Most earn $35,640–$118,210

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)18.6%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods6.8%
  • Support activities for water transportation5.8%
  • Sawmills and wood preservation5.5%
  • Temporary help services4.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This career can start with a high school diploma, but most people first spend about 1 to 2 years in related entry-level work, like moving materials on a job site, before they run hoists or winches on their own. It's a hands-on career that takes a few years to build up.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic education most employers ask for and lets you start applying for job-site work right away.

  2. Hand Laborer or Material Mover

    6 months to 1 year

    Working on a site or in a warehouse teaches you safe lifting, how loads are moved, and how crews communicate, which are the basics you need before running equipment.

  3. Industrial Truck Operator

    6 months to 1 year

    Running forklifts or similar equipment teaches you load control, equipment checks, and safety rules, and it prepares you to handle powered lifting machines.

  4. Hoist and Winch Operator

    Ongoing

    You control hoists and winches to lift and pull loads, and you help set up and check the cable equipment on each job.

Where it can lead

  1. Crane Operator

    1 to 2 years as a hoist and winch operator of experience first

    Crane work usually means handling larger, more complex lifts and earning a certificate or apprenticeship, so you'll need to build a record of safe lifting on the job first.

  2. Operating Engineer

    2 to 4 years in lifting or heavy-equipment work of experience first

    Operating engineers run many kinds of heavy construction equipment, so this move means learning a wider range of machines and taking on more responsibility on a crew.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, physics, or math classesShop teaches tool and machine safety, and physics helps you understand how weight, force, and cables work.
  • Take a driver's education or basic machinery course if your school offers oneBeing comfortable with machines and vehicles is a helpful start for any powered-equipment job.
  • Get a part-time or summer job doing physical workLifting, moving materials, or helping on a job site builds the physical stamina and job-site habits employers look for.
  • Join a trade or technical club, like a construction or robotics clubThese groups teach teamwork, hands-on problem-solving, and comfort around tools and equipment.
  • Learn about job-site safetyKnowing basic safety rules early shows employers you take the job seriously and can work safely around heavy loads.

In college

  • Take physics, math, or basic engineering coursesThese help you understand load weights, forces, and rigging math, which are used every day in hoist and winch work.
  • Work a part-time or summer job in construction, warehousing, or movingReal experience moving heavy loads and working around equipment counts toward the 1 to 2 years of experience employers usually look for.
  • Ask about a construction or trades internshipAn internship on a job site lets you see hoist and winch work up close and make contacts who can help you get hired later.
  • Look into a rigging or lifting safety course or certificationSafety training shows employers you know proper lifting and signaling practices before you're on the job.
  • Join a construction or trades clubClubs can connect you with local contractors and show you how job sites are run.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local contractor, union hall, or staffing agency about entry-level laborer jobs, and tell them you want to learn equipment operation.
  • Learn basic safety rules, such as OSHA job-site rules, and bring up safety on every job; employers trust workers who stay careful.
  • Show you're reliable: arrive on time, follow signals, and ask questions when a load or cable looks wrong.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Ground Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $48,327 a year · typical debt $6,365

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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