Jobs Similar to Hoist and Winch Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to hoist and winch operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Roustabouts (Oil and Gas) and Fallers.
Hoist and Winch Operators: $56,450 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Hoist and Winch Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 79% | $57,430+2% | High school |
| 2 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 78% | $46,960−17% | High school |
| 3 | Fallers | 78% | $52,100−8% | High school |
| 4 | Roof Bolters, Mining | 78% | $78,540+39% | High school |
| 5 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 78% | $51,330−9% | High school |
| 6 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersSame group | 78% | $61,770+9% | High school |
| 7 | Riggers | 78% | $62,640+11% | High school |
| 8 | Crane and Tower OperatorsSame group | 78% | $68,080+21% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 78% | $47,730−15% | High school |
| 10 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | 77% | $67,890+20% | High school |
| 11 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 77% | $43,960−22% | High school |
| 12 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 77% | $60,190+7% | High school |
| 13 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 77% | $54,430−4% | High school |
| 14 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 77% | $46,170−18% | High school |
| 15 | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 77% | $50,960−10% | High school |
| 16 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 77% | $61,810+9% | High school |
| 17 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersSame group | 77% | $58,870+4% | High school |
| 18 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 77% | $60,600+7% | High school |
| 19 | Locomotive Engineers | 77% | $81,410+44% | High school |
| 20 | Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | 77% | $58,620+4% | High school |
- 1Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
79% similar · $57,430 (+2%) · High school
- 2Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $46,960 (−17%) · High school
- 3Fallers
78% similar · $52,100 (−8%) · High school
- 4Roof Bolters, Mining
78% similar · $78,540 (+39%) · High school
- 5Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
78% similar · $51,330 (−9%) · High school
- 6Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
78% similar · $61,770 (+9%) · High school · Same group
- 7Riggers
78% similar · $62,640 (+11%) · High school
- 8Crane and Tower Operators
78% similar · $68,080 (+21%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Helpers--Extraction Workers
78% similar · $47,730 (−15%) · High school
- 10Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $67,890 (+20%) · High school
- 11Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $43,960 (−22%) · High school
- 12Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
77% similar · $60,190 (+7%) · High school
- 13Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
77% similar · $54,430 (−4%) · High school
- 14Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $46,170 (−18%) · High school
- 15Tree Trimmers and Pruners
77% similar · $50,960 (−10%) · High school
- 16Continuous Mining Machine Operators
77% similar · $61,810 (+9%) · High school
- 17Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
77% similar · $58,870 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 18Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
77% similar · $60,600 (+7%) · High school
- 19Locomotive Engineers
77% similar · $81,410 (+44%) · High school
- 20Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $58,620 (+4%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than hoist and winch operators.
- Locomotive Engineers77% similar · $81,410 (+44%)
- Roof Bolters, Mining78% similar · $78,540 (+39%)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas77% similar · $67,890 (+20%)
- Riggers78% similar · $62,640 (+11%)
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers78% similar · $61,770 (+9%)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators77% similar · $61,810 (+9%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for hoist and winch operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where hoist and winch operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (89)
- Riggers (88)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (88)
- Logging Equipment Operators (85)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (84)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (84)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (84)
- Motorboat Operators (83)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (83)
- Bridge and Lock Tenders (82)
Questions about jobs like hoist and winch operators
What jobs are most similar to hoist and winch operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (79% similar), Roustabouts (Oil and Gas) (78% similar), Fallers (78% similar), Roof Bolters (78% similar) and Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (78% similar).
Which jobs like hoist and winch operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +44%; usually a high school diploma), Roof Bolters ($78,540, +39%; usually a high school diploma) and Crane and Tower Operators ($68,080, +21%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with hoist and winch operators ($56,450). Without more preparation than hoist and winch operators usually need: Locomotive Engineers, Roof Bolters and Rotary Drill Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.