What Do Rigger Do?
Job Description: Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.
List of Rigger Job Duties
- Select gear such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules.
- Clean and dress machine surfaces and component parts.
- Tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, or around obstacles, using multi-point suspension techniques.
- Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools.
- Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.
- Align, level, and anchor machinery.
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Things a Rigger Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Riggers say are the most useful in their careers:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Types of Rigger Jobs
- Millwright
- Hook Tender
- Slinger
- Heavy Lift Rigger
- Crane Rigger
Job Opportunities for Riggers
There were about 20,900 jobs for Rigger in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,000 new jobs for Rigger by 2026. The BLS estimates 2,300 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Rigger are Rhode Island, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Wisconsin, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Rigger Make?
The typical yearly salary for Riggers is somewhere between $29,990 and $75,930.

Riggers who work in New York, Hawaii, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Riggers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $44,160 |
Alaska | $65,430 |
Arizona | $55,060 |
Arkansas | $29,850 |
California | $57,610 |
Colorado | $46,400 |
Connecticut | $51,380 |
Florida | $49,580 |
Georgia | $34,560 |
Hawaii | $67,920 |
Illinois | $64,720 |
Indiana | $52,700 |
Iowa | $44,950 |
Kansas | $33,000 |
Kentucky | $42,140 |
Louisiana | $46,610 |
Maine | $52,840 |
Maryland | $56,890 |
Massachusetts | $52,590 |
Michigan | $55,510 |
Minnesota | $62,670 |
Mississippi | $44,900 |
Missouri | $51,100 |
Montana | $50,130 |
Nebraska | $48,860 |
Nevada | $53,230 |
New Hampshire | $50,260 |
New Jersey | $59,420 |
New Mexico | $63,460 |
New York | $80,210 |
North Carolina | $48,580 |
North Dakota | $52,950 |
Ohio | $46,820 |
Oklahoma | $50,630 |
Oregon | $68,500 |
Pennsylvania | $46,290 |
Rhode Island | $56,050 |
South Carolina | $38,440 |
Tennessee | $43,300 |
Texas | $49,990 |
Utah | $59,580 |
Virginia | $49,880 |
Washington | $57,990 |
West Virginia | $37,660 |
Wisconsin | $36,580 |
Wyoming | $41,790 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Riggers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Riggers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Autodesk AutoCAD
How to Become a Rigger
Individuals working as a Rigger have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Rigger?

Where Riggers Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Rigger might also be interested in the following careers:
- Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Career changers with experience as a Rigger sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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