Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for hoist and winch operators in the U.S. is $56,450 ($27.14 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $56,450
- Mean annual wage
- $67,710
- Median hourly wage
- $27.14
- Employment
- 2,600
2,600 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,640 | $17.13 |
| 25th percentile | $42,690 | $20.53 |
| Median (50th) | $56,450 | $27.14 |
| 75th percentile | $94,350 | $45.36 |
| 90th percentile | $118,210 | $56.83 |
Highest-paying states for hoist and winch operators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $118,210 | 320 |
| Hawaii | $107,100 | 120 |
| Maryland | $99,840 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $78,400 | 60 |
| New York | $74,980 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $62,240 | — |
| Oregon | $55,880 | 70 |
| Missouri | $47,510 | 40 |
| Ohio | $43,000 | — |
| Michigan | $40,070 | 50 |
Lowest-paying states
- Florida: $33,570 median annual wage
- Wisconsin: $36,560 median annual wage
- Virginia: $37,020 median annual wage
- Georgia: $37,870 median annual wage
- Indiana: $39,750 median annual wage
About this occupation
Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
Typical tasks
- Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
- Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
- Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
- Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
- Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
- Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 23.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 17.4% |
| Associate's degree | 6.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 4.3% |
| Master's degree | 0.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Light Truck Drivers$44,860
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
- Driver/Sales Workers$38,770
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.