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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

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

Median pay in Greater Boston
$64,390
$30.96/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
Not published
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
No formal educational credential
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$62,240$62,240$64,390$109,440$109,440

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure17 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 17
  • Language-model AIOE 13
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 22

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is lower and observed AI use is little or none. Federal projections note that automated lifting systems may take over some tasks, so this job may shrink over time. Hands-on work like running cable equipment, giving signals, and repairing machines is the part that still needs people.

Likely to change

  • Running lifts that automated systems can handle
  • Monitoring gauges and load positions

Still relies on people

  • Signaling and working with other crew members
  • Repairing and adjusting equipment with hand tools

What federal projections say

“Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as the expansion of automated lifting systems eliminates some of the tasks previously performed by hoist and winch operators.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Crane and Tower Operators

    Crane operating builds directly on running levers, watching loads, and working with signals. Boston median pay is higher at $98,140, and growth is 16.1%.

    Pay difference
    +$33,750 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +16.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

    Your equipment repair and adjustment skills carry over to fixing heavy mobile machinery. This job pays a Boston median of $76,770.

    Pay difference
    +$12,380 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Mechanics use hand tools and hoists, so your familiarity with lifting gear helps. The Boston median pay is $75,770.

    Pay difference
    +$11,380 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

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