Hoist mechanic vs forklift technician

The differences between hoist mechanics and forklift technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a hoist mechanic and a forklift technician. Additionally, a hoist mechanic has an average salary of $47,123, which is higher than the $43,589 average annual salary of a forklift technician.

The top three skills for a hoist mechanic include cranes, hoists and mechanical devices. The most important skills for a forklift technician are troubleshoot, preventative maintenance, and safety procedures.

Hoist mechanic vs forklift technician overview

	Hoist Mechanic	Forklift Technician
Yearly salary	$47,123	$43,589
Hourly rate	$22.66	$20.96
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	34,037	179,388
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 83%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

Hoist mechanic vs forklift technician salary

Hoist mechanics and forklift technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hoist Mechanic	Forklift Technician
Average salary	$47,123	$43,589
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $75,000	Between $31,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between hoist mechanic and forklift technician education

There are a few differences between a hoist mechanic and a forklift technician in terms of educational background:

	Hoist Mechanic	Forklift Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 83%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	-

Hoist mechanic vs forklift technician demographics

Here are the differences between hoist mechanics' and forklift technicians' demographics:

	Hoist Mechanic	Forklift Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%	Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 1.6% White, 78.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	1%	1%

Differences between hoist mechanic and forklift technician duties and responsibilities

Hoist mechanic example responsibilities.

Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Repair fork trucks and overhead crane systems.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.

Forklift technician example responsibilities.

Organize and preform OSHA inspections for overhead hoists.
Pick outbound orders using AS400 RF system using FIFO.
Load and unload trucks by hand with Forklift/double forks.
Employ wide variety of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electrical testing devices.
Perform on-site field maintenance, quarterly calibrations, and major repairs to heavy machinery such as cranes, man-lifts and forklifts.
Position lifting device under, over, or around load pallets and secure materials or products for transport to designate area.

Hoist mechanic vs forklift technician skills

Common hoist mechanic skills

Cranes, 67%
Hoists, 19%
Mechanical Devices, 9%
Load Test, 5%

Common forklift technician skills

Troubleshoot, 70%
Preventative Maintenance, 3%
Safety Procedures, 3%
Hand Tools, 3%
General Repairs, 2%
OSHA, 2%

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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Hoist Mechanic
Hoist Mechanic vs Forklift Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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