Prevailing Wage for Hoist and Winch Operators
Prevailing wage for Hoist and Winch Operators (SOC 53-7041) is set by DOL using regional wage surveys that cover Hoist Operators, Hoistmen, and related titles. DOL assigns four experience-based levels, and the floor varies significantly by city, so your offer amount depends on both your seniority and your worksite location.
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Entry-level filings cover workers new to operating hoists or winches, typically with less than two years of experience, limited independent judgment, and close supervision throughout lifting and cable operations. Employers filing here are onboarding candidates still building core equipment familiarity.
The most common filing level for Hoist and Winch Operators. Covers workers with established hands-on experience who perform standard lifts and pulls with moderate supervision. Candidates transitioning from apprenticeships or moving to a new employer often land here.
Experienced operators who handle complex or high-load lifts with minimal supervision, troubleshoot cable equipment issues independently, and may coordinate with rigging or site crews. Filings at this level reflect demonstrated competency across varied operational conditions.
Fully competent operators in senior or lead roles, often overseeing multiple hoist systems, training junior operators, or managing safety compliance on heavy-lift projects. Employers filing at Level 4 are sponsoring candidates with extensive specialized experience and site leadership responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Hoist and Winch Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Hoist and Winch Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for the Chicago wage gap
Chicago-area prevailing wages for hoist operators run dramatically above the national median due to dense construction union activity. If your offer is based on a national or Midwest average, it may fall short of the local DOL floor. Confirm the worksite city before evaluating any offer.
Verify your SOC filing matches your title
Titles like Material Handler or Service Operator sometimes get filed under a different SOC, missing the Hoist and Winch Operators floor entirely. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 53-7041 before your petition is submitted to USCIS.
Exclude bonuses from your floor calculation
Signing bonuses and project-completion bonuses are not counted toward prevailing wage compliance. Only base wages apply to the DOL floor for this occupation. Make sure your base salary alone clears the applicable level wage for your worksite location.
Find employers sponsoring Hoist Operators on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring Hoist and Winch Operators, including sponsorship counts by company. That history signals which construction and industrial employers actively navigate the LCA and petition process for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Hoist and Winch OperatorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7041.00 alongside Hoist and Winch Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Hoist Operator Prevailing Wage
Hoist Operator Prevailing Wage
Hoist Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7041.00 (Hoist and Winch Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hoistman Prevailing Wage
Hoistman Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hoistman for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7041.00 (Hoist and Winch Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Material Handler Prevailing Wage
Material Handler Prevailing Wage
Material Handler is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7041.00 (Hoist and Winch Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Service Operator Prevailing Wage
Service Operator Prevailing Wage
Service Operator positions fall under SOC 53-7041.00 (Hoist and Winch Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Winch Derrick Operator Prevailing Wage
Winch Derrick Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Winch Derrick Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7041.00 (Hoist and Winch Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Hoist and Winch Operators?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across geographic areas. For Hoist and Winch Operators (SOC 53-7041), OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from regional wage distributions. Employers must use the level that matches the candidate's experience when filing a Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified workers performing standard duties independently. Level 3 applies to experienced operators handling complex tasks. Level 4 is for fully competent senior or lead operators. Your level is determined by the actual duties and supervision in the employer's job description, not your years of experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much between cities?
OFLC uses regional OES surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a national average. An employer must list the actual worksite address on the LCA, and the DOL floor tied to that worksite applies. High-concentration construction markets like Chicago or New York carry significantly higher floors than lower-density metros like Dallas or Detroit, where surveyed wages for hoist operators are considerably lower.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage?
USCIS and DOL require that the offered wage on an LCA meet or exceed the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. If the offer is below the floor, DOL can reject or audit the LCA, USCIS can deny the visa petition, and the employer may face back-wage liability. An offer below the applicable floor cannot be approved regardless of other qualifications.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Hoist and Winch Operators at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, enter SOC code 53-7041, and select the worksite metropolitan area or state. OFLC publishes level-specific wage floors for each geographic area. For broader occupational context, the O*NET profile for this SOC provides wage ranges by region. Migrate Mate also lets you filter sponsored job listings by location to see which employers are actively hiring hoist operators in your target city.
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