Education:
41%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
27%
Less than a High School Diploma
Hoist and Winch Operators
This is a sub-career of
Material Moving Machine Operator
More sub-careers
Select a specialized sub-career for more details.
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
None
Salary
High:
$121,450.00
Average:
$69,120.00
Hourly
Average:
$33.23
What they do:
Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
On the job, you would:
- 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.
- Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
- Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material. They also receive direction from workers on the ground when moving material.
Coordination. Material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely. They use hand controls to maneuver their machines through tight spaces, around large objects, and on uneven surfaces.
Mechanical skills. Material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them.
Visual ability. Material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving. They must also watch for nearby workers, who may unknowingly be in their path.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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79% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
|
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78% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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78% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
|
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76% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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74% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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71% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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68% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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67% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
83% | 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. | |
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61% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
72% | 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. | |
|
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66% | 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. | |
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66% | Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. | |
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66% | Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears. | |
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66% | 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. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Move materials, equipment, or supplies.
Position material handling equipment.
Select project materials.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Communicate with others to coordinate material handling or movement.
Connect cables or electrical lines.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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100% | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? | |
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97% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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95% | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? | |
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95% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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94% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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94% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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94% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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93% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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92% | Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment? | |
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92% | Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? | |
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90% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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90% | Exposed to High Places - How often does this job require exposure to high places? | |
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90% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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89% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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89% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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88% | Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? | |
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83% | Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body? | |
|
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83% | Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.) | |
|
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80% | Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions - How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions? | |
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79% | In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)? | |
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77% | Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions? | |
|
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77% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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70% | Exposed to Whole Body Vibration - How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)? | |
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69% | Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures? | |
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67% | Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)? | |
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77% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
81% | 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. | |
|
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78% | Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. | |
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78% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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78% | Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft. | |
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77% | Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). | |
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77% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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77% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
|
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74% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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73% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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71% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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66% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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66% | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
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66% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
What Material Moving Machine Operators Do
Crane and tower operators are commonly employed in construction and water transportation.
Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects. For example, some operators move goods around factories and storage areas or onto container ships. Others move construction materials around building sites.
Duties
Material moving machine operators typically do the following:
- Set up and inspect material moving equipment
- Control equipment with levers, wheels, or foot pedals
- Move material according to a plan or schedule
- Signal and direct workers to load and unload materials
- Keep a record of the material they move and where they move it to
- Make minor repairs to their equipment
In warehouses and factories, most material moving machine operators use forklifts and conveyor belts. Wireless sensors and tags keep track of merchandise, allowing operators to locate it faster. Some operators also check goods for damage. These operators usually work closely with hand laborers and material movers.
In construction, material moving machine operators transport objects around building sites. Some work on a building site for the entire length of the construction project. For example, certain material moving machine operators help to construct highrise buildings by transporting materials to workers who are far above ground level. (For information about workers who operate heavy machinery for building, road, and other construction sites, see the profile on construction equipment operators.)
All material moving machine operators are responsible for safely controlling their equipment or vehicle.
The following are examples of types of material moving machine operators:
Conveyor operators and tenders control conveyor systems that move materials on an automatic belt. They monitor sensors to regulate the speed with which the system’s conveyor belt moves. They move materials to and from places such as storage areas, vehicles, and building sites. Operators also may check the shipping order and determine the route that materials take along a conveyor.
Crane and tower operators use cable and tower equipment to lift and move materials, machinery, or other heavy objects. From a control station, operators extend and retract horizontal booms, rotate the superstructure, and lower and raise hooks attached to cables at the end of their crane or tower. Operators usually are guided by workers on the ground who use hand signals or transmit voice signals through a radio. Crane and tower operators usually work at construction sites or major ports, where they load and unload cargo. Operators also may work in iron and steel mills.
Dredge operators excavate waterways. They operate equipment on the water to remove sand, gravel, or rock from harbors or lakes. Removing these materials helps to prevent erosion and to maintain navigable waterways, allowing larger ships to use ports. Dredging also is used to help restore wetlands and maintain beaches.
Hoist and winch operators, also called derrick operators, control the movement of platforms, cables, and cages that transport workers or materials in industrial operations, such as constructing a highrise building. Operators regulate the speed of the equipment on the based on the needs of the workers.
Industrial truck and tractor operators drive trucks and tractors that move materials around storage yards, warehouses, or other worksites. These trucks, often called forklifts, have a lifting mechanism and forks, which make them useful for moving heavy and large objects. Some industrial truck and tractor operators drive tractors that pull trailers loaded with material around factories or storage areas.
Work Environment
Material moving machine operators held about 879,500 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up material moving machine operators was distributed as follows:
| Industrial truck and tractor operators | 796,600 |
| Crane and tower operators | 48,400 |
| Conveyor operators and tenders | 30,600 |
| Hoist and winch operators | 2,800 |
| Dredge operators | 1,000 |
The largest employers of material moving machine operators were as follows:
| Warehousing and storage | 37% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 |
| Temporary help services | 8 |
| Food manufacturing | 5 |
| Construction | 3 |
Material moving machine operators work indoors and outdoors in a variety of industries.
Injuries and Illnesses
Hoist and winch operators have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Many workers wear personal protective equipment—including gloves, hardhats, and harnesses—to guard against injury.
Work Schedules
Most material moving machine operators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some work overnight shifts.
Getting Started
How to Become a Material Moving Machine Operator
Material moving machine operators are trained on the job.
Education and training requirements vary by occupation. Crane operators typically have several years of experience in a related occupation.
Education
Although no formal educational credential is typically required, companies may prefer to hire material moving machine operators who have a high school diploma. For crane and tower operators and dredge operators, a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
Training
Material moving machine operators typically are trained on the job in less than a month, but the amount of time spent in training varies with the type of machine. Some machines, such as cranes and towers, are complex and may require several months of training. Others, such as industrial trucks and forklifts, may take only a few days to learn how to operate. New workers usually are trained by an experienced employee.
During their training, material moving machine operators learn safety rules, many of which are standardized through the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Employers must certify that each operator has received the proper training. Operators who work with hazardous materials receive additional training.
The International Union of Operating Engineers offers training programs for heavy-equipment operators, such as crane operators.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some states and cities require crane operators to be licensed. Operators typically must complete a skills test in which they show that they can control a crane. They also must pass a written exam that tests their knowledge of safety rules and procedures. Check with your state or city licensing agency for specific requirements.
Employers may require or prefer that workers become certified. For example, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) offers several certifications for crane operators and related workers.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Crane and tower operators typically have several years of experience working as construction equipment operators, hoist and winch operators, or riggers and signalers.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 88,900 openings for material moving machine operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Projected employment of material moving machine operators varies by occupation (see table).
Material moving machine operators will be needed to move materials or products to and from various locations, such as warehouses, stockpiles, or processing stations. The continued growth in e-commerce will increase the amount of materials and products needing to be moved. However, employment demand for these workers may be limited by the expansion of automated machinery and technologies, such as sensors and scanners, that improve operations and increase efficiencies.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about careers as a material moving machine operator, visit
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of material moving machine operators.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Construction Equipment Operators |
Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, buildings, and other structures. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $51,050 |
|
Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers |
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $38,220 |
|
Hand Laborers and Material Movers |
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. |
See How to Become One | $34,960 |
|
Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers |
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $49,920 |
|
Railroad Workers |
Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains operate safely. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or control signals and switches in the rail yard. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $68,960 |
|
Water Transportation Workers |
Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. |
See How to Become One | $66,100 |