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Hoist and Winch Operators
Lifts steel, materials and equipment on job sites and in ports.
Read the full guide
Crane operators run mobile and tower cranes to lift heavy loads safely at construction sites, ports, rail yards and plants. The work demands focus and precision, and it pays well.
The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.
High school courses that build toward it
- Welding and Metal Fabrication · Career and Technical
Builds tools and machines, which this job uses.
- English 10 · English
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Pre-Algebra · Math
Builds math, which this job uses.
- Physics · Science
Builds physics, which this job uses.
- Computer Science Principles · Computer Science
Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.
- Physical Education · Health and PE
Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.
Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.
Hoist and Winch Operators on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.