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Hoist and Winch Operators Salaries by State

Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for hoist and winch operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).

National mean salary $67,710 ≈ $33/hr
National median salary $56,450
Total employment 2,600 nationwide

Job Outlook, 2024–2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Projected growth -1.1% Decline
Annual openings 300 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 2,700 → 2,700 (0)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential

Salary Map

Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.

Mean annual wage $0–$41,000 $41,000–$42,000 $42,000–$49,000 $49,000–$72,000 $72,000–$114,000 U.S. mean $67,710

💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States

  1. Illinois$114,220
  2. Hawaii$109,810
  3. Maryland$91,780
  4. Massachusetts$73,970
  5. New York$72,030

📉 5 Lowest-Paying States

  1. Wisconsin$38,160
  2. Virginia$38,590
  3. Georgia$41,100
  4. Tennessee$41,170
  5. Michigan$41,380

State Rankings

⇄ Compare specific states
#StateMeanMedian Hourlyvs. U.S.Employment
1 Illinois $114,220 $118,210 $55 +68.7% 320
2 Hawaii $109,810 $107,100 $53 +62.2% 120
3 Maryland $91,780 $99,840 $44 +35.5% 140
4 Massachusetts $73,970 $62,240 $36 +9.2% —
5 New York $72,030 $74,980 $35 +6.4% 110
6 Minnesota $70,340 $78,400 $34 +3.9% 60
7 Oregon $59,690 $55,880 $29 -11.8% 70
8 Missouri $48,650 $47,510 $23 -28.1% 40
9 Indiana $46,520 $39,750 $22 -31.3% 120
10 Florida $46,370 $33,570 $22 -31.5% 120
11 Ohio $41,670 $43,000 $20 -38.5% —
12 Michigan $41,380 $40,070 $20 -38.9% 50
13 Tennessee $41,170 $39,930 $20 -39.2% 40
14 Georgia $41,100 $37,870 $20 -39.3% 90
15 Virginia $38,590 $37,020 $19 -43% 40

Top-Paying Metro Areas

Highest median pay among 9 metro areas.

#Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
1 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $118,210 $116,800 300
2 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $99,840 $92,990 130
3 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $78,400 $71,660 60
4 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $74,840 $87,440 160
5 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $64,390 $77,160 —
6 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $47,810 $48,110 40
7 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $46,310 $44,730 60
8 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $35,410 $38,490 30
9 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $29,120 $33,230 —

Pay by Industry

Highest-paying industries employing hoist and winch operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).

#IndustryMedianMeanEmployment
1 Specialty Trade Contractors $127,390 $114,180 —
2 Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS $118,210 $111,140 350
3 Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) $118,210 $111,140 350
4 Water Transportation $107,100 $109,890 130
5 Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation $107,100 $109,890 130
6 Support Activities for Transportation $95,000 $85,840 180
7 Support Activities for Water Transportation $95,000 $85,840 180
8 Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries $90,080 $77,140 90
9 Other Amusement and Recreation Industries $90,080 $77,140 90
10 Sector 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation $90,080 $77,140 90
11 Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing $74,950 $80,450 530
12 Coal Mining $67,930 $70,130 30

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do hoist and winch operators make in the U.S.?

The median hoist and winch operators salary in the United States is $56,450 per year (mean $67,710), and about 80% earn between $35,640 and $118,210.

How much do hoist and winch operators make per hour?

Roughly $33 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $67,710 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Which state pays hoist and winch operators the most?

Illinois has the highest average pay for hoist and winch operators at $114,220 per year (median $118,210).

What is the job outlook for hoist and winch operators?

Employment is projected to change -1.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 300 openings per year.