Hoist and Winch Operators Salary
In Illinois, hoist and winch operators earn $118,210 at the median, or about $56.83 an hour. The range runs from $118K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $125,956 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $118K get you in Illinois?
About hoist and winch operators
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for hoist and winch operators, local pay runs about 109% higher than the U.S. median of $56K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Illinois offers a genuinely strong financial position for hoist and winch operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level hoist and winch operators (10th percentile) start around $118K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $0 spread from bottom to top.
Hoist and Winch Operators salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $118K | +0% | 300 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hoist and winch operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for hoist and winch operators in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hoist and winch operators typically earn — is $118K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,093/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is hoist and winch operator a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 109% above the national median — $118K here vs. $56K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for hoist and winch operators?
Illinois pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $56K — that’s +109%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hoist and winch operators make in Illinois?
The median is $118,210 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $118,210, and experienced hoist and winch operators can clear $118,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,141/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 19.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a hoist and winch operators salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $125,956 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.