All About Riggers
Job Description & Duties Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.
Daily Life Of a Rigger
- Clean and dress machine surfaces and component parts.
- Dismantle and store rigging equipment after use.
- Install ground rigging for yarding lines, attaching chokers to logs and to the lines.
- Select gear such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules.
- Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.
- Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Rigger?
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Machinery Erector
- Millwright
- Crane Rigger
- Rig Builder
- Loft Rigger
Rigger Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 20,900 jobs for Rigger in 2016. 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.
Average Riggers Salary
The salary for Riggers ranges between about $29,990 and $75,930 a year.

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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Riggers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Autodesk AutoCAD
Becoming a Rigger
What kind of Rigger requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Riggers Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Riggers employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Rigger may also be interested in:
- Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Are you already one of the many Rigger in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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