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Hoist and Winch Operators

Job Data

  • Typical education: Apprenticeship/Postsecondary Training

Salary Range

  • New York State: $37,160-$72,090 per year
  • Capital Region:
  • Central New York:
  • Finger Lakes:
  • Hudson Valley: $58,060-$106,510 per year
  • Long Island:
  • Mohawk Valley:
  • New York City:
  • North Country:
  • Southern Tier:
  • Western New York:

Typical Tasks

  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.