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AI exposure score

Hoist and Winch Operators

Hoist and Winch Operators score 0 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #876 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 13 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

0/ 100
Low
Rank
#876of 923 jobs
US workers
2,600BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$56,450a year
In real AI use
0 of 13tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

  • AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 13 (100%)
  • Move levers, pedals, and throttles to stop, start, and regulate speeds of hoist or winch drums in response to hand, bell, buzzer, telephone, loud-speaker, or whistle signals, or by observing dial indicators or cable marks.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Operate compressed air, diesel, electric, gasoline, or steam-driven hoists or winches to control movement of cableways, cages, derricks, draglines, loaders, railcars, or skips.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Move or reposition hoists, winches, loads and materials, manually or using equipment and machines such as trucks, cars, and hand trucks.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Select loads or materials according to weight and size specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Signal and assist other workers loading or unloading materials.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Attach, fasten, and disconnect cables or lines to loads, materials, and equipment, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Apply hand or foot brakes and move levers to lock hoists or winches.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Oil winch drums so that cables will wind smoothly.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Climb ladders to position and set up vehicle-mounted derricks.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Repair, maintain, and adjust equipment, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Tend auxiliary equipment, such as jacks, slings, cables, or stop blocks, to facilitate moving items or materials for further processing.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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This job is already among the least exposed in its field.

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Questions about hoist and winch operators and AI

Will AI replace hoist and winch operators?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Hoist and Winch Operators score 0 out of 100 (low exposure), #876 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 0 of the job's 13 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 13 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which hoist and winch operators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Move levers, pedals, and throttles to stop, start, and regulate speeds of hoist or winch drums in response to hand, bell, buzzer, telephone, loud-speaker, or whistle signals, or by observing dial indicators or cable marks"; "Start engines of hoists or winches and use levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums"; "Observe equipment gauges and indicators and hand signals of other workers to verify load positions or depths".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as hoist and winch operators, and what do they earn?

About 2,600 people in the US, with median pay of $56,450 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

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