Hoist and Winch Operators Salary
In Florida, hoist and winch operators earn $33,570 at the median, or about $16.14 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $34,054 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 68.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $34K actually covers in Florida, month by month
About hoist and winch operators
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for hoist and winch operators in Florida runs about 41% below the U.S. median of $56K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 68.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for hoist and winch operators.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level hoist and winch operators (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Hoist and Winch Operators salary by metro in Florida
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $29K | -13% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a hoist and winch operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 68.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hoist and winch operators in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hoist and winch operators typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,049/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 81% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is hoist and winch operator a high-paying job in Florida?
Local pay runs 41% below the national median — $34K here vs. $56K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for hoist and winch operators?
Florida pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $56K — that’s -41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do hoist and winch operators make in Florida?
The median is $33,570 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,070, and experienced hoist and winch operators can clear $74,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,418/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 68.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a hoist and winch operators salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hoist and winch operators salary is worth about $34,054 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hoist and winch operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.