Hoist and Winch Operators Salary
In Virginia, hoist and winch operators earn $37,020 at the median, or about $17.8 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $39,055 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 65.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $37K get you in Virginia?
About hoist and winch operators
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for hoist and winch operators in Virginia runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $56K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 65.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for hoist and winch operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level hoist and winch operators (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track hoist and winch operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hoist and winch operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 65.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hoist and winch operators typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,773/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 93% 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 Virginia?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $37K here vs. $56K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for hoist and winch operators?
Virginia pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $56K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do hoist and winch operators make in Virginia?
The median is $37,020 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,550, and experienced hoist and winch operators can clear $45,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,514/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 65.5% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $39,055 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.