Hoist and Winch Operators
Machines can already do 28% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 71%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Hoist and Winch Operators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 28% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 71% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 2,600 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $56,450 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 52% for contact with people.
- Also called: Hoist Operator, Hoisting Operator, Hoistman, Service Operator.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 22% | 30% to 75% | |
| Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips | 15% | 30% to 75% | |
| Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths | 10% | 40% to 80% | |
| Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums | 10% | 30% to 75% | |
| Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials | 7% | 30% to 75% | |
| Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks | 7% | 30% to 75% | |
| Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools | 5% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills hoist and winch operators use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $48,250
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $57,430
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $60,600
- Sailors and Marine Oilers57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $51,520
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Hoist and Winch Operators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of hoist and winch operators?
Machines can do 28% of the tasks of hoist and winch operators today and 71% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 53-7041.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Hoist and Winch Operators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/hoist-and-winch-operators/