Hoist and winch operators
SOC Code: 53-7041
Hoist and winch operators carries a 21% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $52,310 and -1.1% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 2,700 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Hoist and winch operators (SOC 53-7041) carries an AI exposure score of 21%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 2,700 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -1.1% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $52,310, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Hoist and winch operators. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. 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.
- 2. Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
- 3. Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
- 4. Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
- 5. Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
- 6. Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.
- 7. Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
- 8. Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.
- 9. Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
- 10. Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
Key Skills Required
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Time Management
- Active Listening
- Operation and Control
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
- Administration and Management
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Hoist and winch operators?
Hoist and winch operators has an AI exposure score of 21%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Hoist and winch operators?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Hoist and winch operators is projected to decline by 1.1% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 2,700 workers.
What skills are needed for Hoist and winch operators?
Key skills for Hoist and winch operators include Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Hoist and winch operators earn?
The median annual wage for Hoist and winch operators is $52,310, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Hoist and winch operators?
The typical entry-level education for Hoist and winch operators is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Hoist and winch operators?
Hoist and winch operators roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).