Hoist and Winch Operators

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

Also called: Hoist Operator, Hoisting Operator, Hoistman, Service Operator, Winch Derrick Operator, Winchman, Air Hoist Operator, Air Lift Operator, Boat Hoist Operator, Boat Loader, Cable Operator, Cable Way Operator, Casing Puller, Chute Operator, Clutch Operator, Corner Bead Operator, Cupola Hoist Operator, Derrick Operator, Electric Fork Operator, Gin Pole Operator, Hoisting Engine Operator, Hydraulic Boom Operator, Industrial Tugger Operator, Jammer Operator, Jump Roll Operator, Lever Operator, Pack Changer, Pack Puller, Pier Runner, Pipe Puller, Pit Hoist Operator, Pneumatic Hoist Operator, Pole Lift Operator, Pulling Unit Floorhand, Scrap Hoist Operator, Scraper Loader Operator, Skip Hoist Operator, Slope Tender, Steam Hoist Operator, Stiff Leg Operator, Tugger, Tugger Operator, Vault Puller, Well Puller, Well Service Derrick Worker, Winch Driver, Winch Operator, Winch Runner, Winch Stripper, Yarder Operator, Yarder Puncher

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.

Skills, machines and equipment

Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Operations Monitoring
Time Management
Active Listening
Operation and Control
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Instructing

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (7.63% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

42,690–94,350 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 53-7041.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop inventory, scheduling, planning, and supply-chain analysis experience; explore coordinator, planner, or logistics-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (7.63% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Hoist and Winch Operators