Occupation Summary

Hoist and Winch Operators

O*NET 53-7041.00

Description:

Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.

Annual Wages:
$37,800.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 5.19%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  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. Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
  3. Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
  4. Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.
  5. Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.
  6. Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.
  7. Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.
  8. Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.
  9. Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.
  10. Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.
  11. Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.
  12. Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.
  13. Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Hoist and Winch Operators employed Annual Growth Rate
Support activities for water transportation 8.5 0.00
Sawmills and wood preservation 4.7 0.00
Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation 4.7 0.00
Employment services 3.6 0.00
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 3.2 0.00
Logging 2.4 0.00
Other amusement and recreation industries 2.3 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $18.17
2024 National average hourly wage $30.81
2022 National employment 2,800
2022 Texas employment 77
Texas projected employment by 2032 81
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 8




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
61.80%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
57.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
52.60%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
52.20%
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
51.40%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
49.80%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
49.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
49.20%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
45.20%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
42.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
75.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
72.40%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
72.40%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
70.00%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
67.60%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
67.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
65.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
65.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
62.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
77.60%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
72.60%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
72.60%
Reaction Time
The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
72.60%
Depth Perception
The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
72.60%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
70.00%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
70.00%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
67.60%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
67.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
67.60%


  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    -- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrench sets;

Belt conveyors: Conveyor belt systems;

Floor or platform scales: Bulk weighing systems;

Forklifts: Tracked forklifts;

Grapples: Fork-grapples;

Grease guns: Grease dispensing guns;

Hand trucks or accessories: Warehouse hand trucks;

Hoists: Pneumatic hoists; Power hoists; Gas powered hoists; Electric hoists;

Hold down clamps: Load clamps;

Ladders: Stepladders;

Lifting cables: Hoisting cables;

Light trucks or sport utility vehicles: Pickup trucks;

Oil can: Oil dispensing cans;

Pallet trucks: Pallet jacks;

Scissor lift or lift table: Elevating platforms;

Skid steer loaders: Skid steers;

Slings: Lifting slings;

Track excavators: Tracked excavators;

Wheel chocks: Stop blocks;

Winches: Electric winches;


Technology

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Hoist and Winch Operators include:
  • 53-7021.00 Crane and Tower Operators
  • 47-5022.00 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
  • 53-7051.00 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
  • 53-7062.00 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
  • 49-9043.00 Maintenance Workers, Machinery
  • 49-3042.00 Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
  • 47-2073.00 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
  • 47-2072.00 Pile Driver Operators
  • 49-9096.00 Riggers
  • 47-5071.00 Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.