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Riggers in California

Want to work as a Riggers in California? Here’s what the data says. Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.

$83,320 Median Annual Wage (California)

$35,808 National Median Annual Wage

3,470 California Employment

Some Preparation Needed Typical Preparation

What do Riggers Make in California?

The riggers working in California, the median annual wage is $83,320 per year (or about $40.06/hour).Annual wages span from $49,130 at the 10th percentile to $127,100 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$49,130	$23.62
25th percentile	$71,710	$34.48
Median (50th)	$83,320	$40.06
75th percentile	$101,840	$48.96
90th percentile	$127,100	$61.11

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California compared to the national average — is 1.22, suggesting that riggers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, riggers earn a median of $35,808 per year ($17.22/hour), exceeding the California median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 515,404 riggers nationwide. In California alone, approximately 3,470 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 290 riggers.

Top California Metros for Riggers

The metro areas below employ the most riggers in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1,800	$94,540
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	350	$75,170
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	200	$95,670
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	80	$66,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	70	$88,490
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	60	$49,220
Vallejo, CA	40	$77,650

Top States for Riggers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most riggers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	3,890
California	3,470
Louisiana	2,270
Virginia	2,030
Florida	1,130
Washington	900
New York	880
Nevada	590
Georgia	570
Utah	480
South Carolina	430
Oklahoma	420
Colorado	400
Maryland	380
Connecticut	360
Oregon	350
Maine	340
Missouri	340
Mississippi	320
Pennsylvania	300

Highest-Paying States for Riggers

Where riggers earn the most: riggers.

State	Annual Median Salary
New York	$103,230
Maryland	$91,730
Utah	$91,070
Oregon	$89,770
California	$83,320
Idaho	$82,250
Hawaii	$80,180
Nevada	$77,960
North Dakota	$76,980
Washington	$75,750

Skills

Key riggers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Operation and Control 3.2 / 5

Coordination 3.1 / 5

Reading Comprehension 3.1 / 5

Critical Thinking 3.1 / 5

Operations Monitoring 3.1 / 5

Active Listening 3.1 / 5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Mechanical 3.7 / 5

Public Safety and Security 3.6 / 5

Production and Processing 3.6 / 5

Customer and Personal Service 3.5 / 5

Administration and Management 3.4 / 5

Design 3.3 / 5

Abilities

Key abilities for riggers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Problem Sensitivity 3.8 / 5

Control Precision 3.4 / 5

Depth Perception 3.4 / 5

Multilimb Coordination 3.4 / 5

Near Vision 3.4 / 5

Trunk Strength 3.2 / 5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, riggers typically:

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.
Align, level, and anchor machinery.
Load machines onto trucks to prepare for transportation.
Attach pulleys and blocks to fixed overhead structures, such as beams, ceilings, and gin pole booms, using bolts and clamps.
Fabricate, set up, and repair rigging, supporting structures, hoists, and pulling gear, using hand and power tools.

Work Activities

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Handling and Moving Objects
Performing General Physical Activities
Getting Information
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Controlling Machines and Processes
Documenting/Recording Information
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Processing Information
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD

Other careers like riggers include:

Also Known As

Acrobatic Rigger, Boat Rigger, Certified Rigger, Crane Rigger, Fly Rail Operator, Gantry Rigger, Gear Repairer, Grip, Hand Rigger, Heavy Lift Rigger, High Rigger, Hook Tender, Laborer Journeyman, Loft Rigger, Machinery Erector.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
O*NET-SOC code: 49-9096.00

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