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Salary comparison

Hoist and Winch Operators vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Hoist and Winch Operators out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Hoist and Winch Operators land at $56,450 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: hoist and winch operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Hoist and Winch Operators is Illinois ($118,210); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Hoist and Winch Operators
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$56,450
$40,240
Hourly rate
$27.14/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,640
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$118,210
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
2,600
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
-1.1%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Illinois
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Hoist and Winch Operators median pay.

State
Hoist and Winch Operators
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Illinois
$118,210
$40,550
Hawaii
$107,100
$44,120
Maryland
$99,840
$41,600
Minnesota
$78,400
$46,280
New York
$74,980
$44,630
Massachusetts
$62,240
$44,920
Oregon
$55,880
$44,750
Missouri
$47,510
$39,080
Ohio
$43,000
$39,460
Michigan
$40,070
$38,860
Indiana
$39,750
$41,340
Georgia
$37,870
$38,480
Virginia
$37,020
$39,380
Wisconsin
$36,560
$44,610
Florida
$33,570
$38,160

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Hoist and Winch Operators or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Hoist and Winch Operators earn more nationally. The median is $56,450 for Hoist and Winch Operators versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Hoist and Winch Operators or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand has the better 10-year outlook at 1.5% projected growth, compared to -1.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Hoist and Winch Operators or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Hoist and Winch Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Hoist and Winch Operators get paid the most?

Illinois is the top-paying state for Hoist and Winch Operators at $118,210/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Hoist and Winch Operators vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Illinois, Hoist and Winch Operators earn $118,210 vs. $40,550 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Hoist and Winch Operators salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Hoist and Winch Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a hoist and winch operatorsGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →