Wind cable and brake the load
Work pedals and levers to wind or unwind cable on the drum, then brake so the load stops.
Career profile
Hoist and Winch Operator
Hoist and winch operators move big, heavy loads on a cable that holds each one.
Keep an eye on the indicators and the crew's signals, then shift the controls until each load lands right where it belongs.
A day in the life
Follow the crew's signals
You match each move to the crew's hand gestures or bells while checking indicators for the load's position.
Switch lines to the next load
When the load changes, use hand tools to unfasten lines and cables, then attach them to the next.
Keep the machine in shape
Look over the machine and gear, fixing small problems so it runs well when the next move begins.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States · 2025–2035
$56,450/year
United States · May 2025
Little change
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobNo formal educational credential is typically required, though employers may prefer a high school diploma.
Pay
$56,450/yearNational median for hoist and winch operators, equivalent to $27.14 an hour.
Outlook
Little changeEmployment is projected to grow 0.2%, with about 300 openings a year.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy making small, precise adjustments.
- You can stay attentive through repeated movements.
- You listen carefully before acting.
Things to weigh
- Noise and hot or cold conditions can make concentration harder.
- In shaft work, people may ride in a cage you cannot see. You depend on clear communication while carrying that responsibility.
Where AI may help
Some mine-hoist systems monitor speed and position and apply brakes when limits are exceeded. Electronic controls can also replace older manual operating stations.
What people still lead
You still coordinate with the people loading, riding, or receiving the cage and interpret their messages before moving it.
What we can’t predict yet
How much routine control shifts to automation will depend on the installation. Your balance of hands-on operation and system monitoring may change as equipment is upgraded.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national figures as a starting point, then compare an offer's hourly rate, expected hours, and overtime terms.
The national midpoint
The median was $56,450 a year, or $27.14 an hour. Half of hoist and winch operators earned more and half earned less.
A wide spread
The 10th–90th percentile range was $35,640–$118,210 a year, or $17.13–$56.83 an hour. These are positions in the wage distribution, not starting and senior pay rates.
Openings despite little growth
Projected employment growth is 0.2% over 2025–2035. About 300 openings are expected annually, including replacement needs; that does not mean 300 newly created jobs each year.
Getting started
Learn with an experienced operator
- What the route involves
- Train on the job with an experienced employee, learning the controls, signals, and safety procedures.
- What it can lead to
- Build the machine-specific skills needed to take responsibility for operating that hoist.
Move into hoisting from mine work
The agreement restricts bidding out of the progression program during the first two years and limits later transfers.
- What the route involves
- At Genesis Alkali's trona mine, mine-department employees need at least one year of underground experience there to bid for hoist training.
- What it can lead to
- Successful trainees can progress to relief operator and operator vacancies in trainee-seniority order.
- What to check
- This internal route requires a medical examination and practical testing. A training bid must be posted; experience alone does not secure a place.
Training is tied to the machine and workplace. Look for an employer that explains how new operators learn and demonstrate readiness.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Make smooth starts, controlled stops, and clear radio exchanges consistent habits on your regular hoist.
Expand your equipment range
At a multi-hoist site, learn additional machines and how they behave with different loads.
Consider crane operation
Hoist experience can support a later move into crane operation. Expect additional training and any licensing or certification required for that work.
Where you can work
High-rise construction
Move platforms or cages carrying workers and materials between building levels. Your pace responds to what the construction crew needs moved.
- Outdoors
- Safety-sensitive
Underground research facilities
Operate shaft hoists from a hoistroom, coordinating by radio with crews far below. Some installations use enclosed control booths; the cage itself may be out of your sight.
- Indoors
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Tie a short string to an empty paper cup and wind the other end around a pencil. Keep the cup sliding on a table while a partner calls start, slow, and stop at marked positions. Notice whether precise cable control and listening hold your attention.
Stay safe: Use only this lightweight tabletop model, without powered equipment or suspended loads.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 53-7041.00 — Hoist and Winch Operators. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Material Moving Machine Operators. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 national estimates — SOC 53-7041. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections, Table 1.2, 2025–2035 — SOC 53-7041. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Sanford Underground Research Facility. The Yates Shaft—primary access. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- United Steelworkers / Genesis Alkali LLC. 2024–2029 collective bargaining agreement, Hoist Operator Progression Program. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- ABB. ABB safety PLC enables SIL3 protection for mine hoist systems. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Sanford Underground Research Facility. Crews complete major upgrade to Ross Hoists. Accessed 2026-10-09.