Riggers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,680 | $19.56 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Mean (average) | $66,810 | $32.12 |
| 90th percentile | $97,850 | $47.04 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Riggers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $57,980 | $42,000 | $73,370 | 460 | 1.49 |
| Alaska | $58,010 | $57,990 | $82,360 | 40 | 0.84 |
| Arizona | $52,370 | $47,640 | $76,980 | 250 | 0.54 |
| Arkansas | $59,680 | $35,800 | $121,240 | 120 | 0.63 |
| California | $85,730 | $53,190 | $127,810 | 2,260 | 0.85 |
| Colorado | $73,720 | $53,290 | $98,510 | 310 | 0.75 |
| Connecticut | $67,560 | $50,870 | $81,780 | 350 | 1.44 |
| Florida | $52,390 | $40,140 | $78,690 | 910 | 0.63 |
| Georgia | $67,200 | $46,300 | $96,150 | 700 | 0.99 |
| Hawaii | $84,410 | $59,820 | $96,350 | 170 | 1.88 |
| Idaho | $72,850 | $49,210 | $105,560 | 60 | 0.47 |
| Illinois | $81,860 | $60,910 | $85,910 | 120 | 0.14 |
| Indiana | $46,090 | $40,670 | $78,830 | 330 | 0.7 |
| Iowa | $62,400 | $43,030 | $71,810 | 200 | 0.91 |
| Kansas | $41,060 | $30,120 | $50,140 | 40 | 0.19 |
| Kentucky | $50,270 | $38,000 | $83,200 | ||
| Louisiana | $43,660 | $29,220 | $75,180 | 1,840 | 6.56 |
| Maine | $64,910 | $54,180 | $81,990 | 330 | 3.6 |
| Maryland | $91,420 | $47,160 | $97,410 | 230 | 0.58 |
| Massachusetts | $53,500 | $35,360 | $99,490 | 240 | 0.45 |
| Michigan | $58,490 | $36,600 | $70,620 | 380 | 0.6 |
| Minnesota | $87,120 | $48,500 | $106,000 | 190 | 0.46 |
| Mississippi | $63,390 | $47,390 | $72,800 | 320 | 1.88 |
| Missouri | $54,190 | $37,560 | $83,610 | 190 | 0.46 |
| Nebraska | $61,080 | $40,110 | $90,470 | 100 | 0.68 |
| Nevada | $81,720 | $46,400 | $100,100 | 860 | 3.82 |
| New Jersey | $82,130 | $48,360 | $115,690 | 200 | 0.32 |
| New Mexico | $37,440 | $37,010 | $69,820 | 230 | 1.79 |
| New York | $105,600 | $47,610 | $129,780 | 650 | 0.46 |
| North Carolina | $56,640 | $45,760 | $72,340 | 440 | 0.62 |
| North Dakota | $77,890 | $65,210 | $169,480 | 140 | 2.17 |
| Ohio | $58,380 | $38,210 | $83,840 | 290 | 0.35 |
| Oklahoma | $48,490 | $37,050 | $74,090 | 300 | 1.2 |
| Oregon | $94,470 | $46,320 | $128,690 | 290 | 1.01 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,140 | $44,980 | $79,560 | 360 | 0.41 |
| Rhode Island | $64,260 | $50,160 | $81,540 | 160 | 2.17 |
| South Carolina | $51,020 | $40,750 | $87,160 | 470 | 1.4 |
| Tennessee | $47,180 | $36,590 | $57,110 | 310 | 0.65 |
| Texas | $51,980 | $41,960 | $81,110 | 3,770 | 1.85 |
| Utah | $93,640 | $72,810 | $97,850 | 490 | 1.96 |
| Virginia | $63,620 | $49,160 | $76,540 | 1,920 | 3.22 |
| Washington | $77,100 | $58,120 | $105,100 | 910 | 1.77 |
| Wisconsin | $49,640 | $41,510 | $78,780 | 170 | 0.4 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for riggers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for riggers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Test rigging to ensure safety and reliability.
- Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.
- Control movement of heavy equipment through narrow openings or confined spaces, using chainfalls, gin poles, gallows frames, and other equipment.
- Tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, or around obstacles, using multi-point suspension techniques.
- Select gear, such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules.
- Dismantle and store rigging equipment after use.
- Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools.
- Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials, such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Autodesk Maya
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Gantry Rigger, Hand Rigger, Heavy Lift Rigger, Machinery Erector, Machinery Mover, Marine Rigger, Motor Rigger, Rigger, Rigging Fabricator, Ship Rigger.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do riggers make?
The national median annual wage for riggers was $62,640 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,680 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $97,850. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do riggers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is riggers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of riggers to change +3.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay riggers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($105,600), Oregon ($94,470), Utah ($93,640). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.