Material Moving Workers

How to become a Hoist and Winch Operator

Official title: Hoist and Winch Operators

Also called: Hoist Operator, Hoisting Operator, Hoistman, Service Operator, Winch Derrick Operator, Winchman

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

Main 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.

How to become one

Education requirements vary by occupation. Crane and tower operators typically need work experience in a related occupation.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $56,450 a year The middle half earn $42,690 to $94,350.
About 3,200 people work in this job now, and about 3,200 are projected by 2035. (+0.2%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Hoist and Winch Operator?

Education requirements vary by occupation. Crane and tower operators typically need work experience in a related occupation.

How much does a Hoist and Winch Operator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $56,450 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $42,690 to $94,350.

Is a Hoist and Winch Operator a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 3,200 people now and 3,200 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Hoist and Winch Operator?

Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Hoist and Winch Operator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.