Hoist and Winch Operators Salary
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, hoist and winch operators earn $74,840 at the median, or about $35.98 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $67,345 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 48.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $75K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About hoist and winch operators
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What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for hoist and winch operators, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $56K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 49.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level hoist and winch operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Hoist and Winch Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Hoist and Winch Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $118K | +109% | 320 |
| Hawaii | $107K | +90% | 120 |
| Maryland | $100K | +77% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +39% | 60 |
| New York | $75K | +33% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +10% | N/A |
| Oregon | $56K | -1% | 70 |
| Missouri | $48K | -16% | 40 |
| Ohio | $43K | -24% | N/A |
| Michigan | $40K | -29% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $40K | -29% | 40 |
| Indiana | $40K | -30% | 120 |
| Georgia | $38K | -33% | 90 |
| Virginia | $37K | -34% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -35% | 80 |
| Florida | $34K | -41% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hoist and winch operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hoist and winch operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 49.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hoist and winch operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,912/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 86% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $75K here vs. $56K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for hoist and winch operators?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $56K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hoist and winch operators make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $74,840 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,540, and experienced hoist and winch operators can clear $135,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,086/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 49.2% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hoist and winch operators salary is worth about $67,345 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.