Hoist and Winch Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for hoist and winch operators is $56,450, or $27.14 per hour. About 2,600 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $118,210 in Illinois to $33,570 in Florida.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 16 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $118,210 | $56.83 | 320 | 3.10 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $107,100 | $51.49 | 120 | 11.17 |
| 3 | Maryland | $99,840 | $48.00 | 140 | 3.03 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $78,400 | $37.69 | 60 | 1.22 |
| 5 | New York | $74,980 | $36.05 | 110 | 0.66 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $62,240 | $29.93 | — | — |
| 7 | Oregon | $55,880 | $26.86 | 70 | 2.22 |
| 8 | Missouri | $47,510 | $22.84 | 40 | 0.89 |
| 9 | Ohio | $43,000 | $20.67 | — | — |
| 10 | Michigan | $40,070 | $19.27 | 50 | 0.62 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $39,930 | $19.20 | 40 | 0.70 |
| 12 | Indiana | $39,750 | $19.11 | 120 | 2.27 |
| 13 | Georgia | $37,870 | $18.21 | 90 | 1.08 |
| 14 | Virginia | $37,020 | $17.80 | 40 | 0.54 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $36,560 | $17.58 | 80 | 1.54 |
| 16 | Florida | $33,570 | $16.14 | 120 | 0.75 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hoist and winch operators make?
The median annual wage for hoist and winch operators in the United States is $56,450, or $27.14 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $35,640, and the top 10% earn $118,210.
How many hoist and winch operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 2,600 people work as hoist and winch operators nationwide.
Which state pays hoist and winch operators the most?
Illinois pays the most at a median of $118,210, followed by Hawaii ($107,100) and Maryland ($99,840).
Which state pays hoist and winch operators the least?
Florida has the lowest median at $33,570.
Where are hoist and winch operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Hawaii at 11.17×.