Riggers
Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.
Also called: Acrobatic Rigger, Boat Rigger, Certified Rigger, Crane Rigger, Fly Rail Operator, Gantry Rigger
Median pay
$62,640
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$40,680 – $97,850
People employed
22,530
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 4.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 5.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 6.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Long hours on your feet
Riggers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (43 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What riggers do
- 01Test rigging to ensure safety and reliability.
- 02Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.
- 03Control movement of heavy equipment through narrow openings or confined spaces, using chainfalls, gin poles, gallows frames, and other equipment.
- 04Tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, or around obstacles, using multi-point suspension techniques.
- 05Select gear, such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules.
- 06Dismantle and store rigging equipment after use.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from riggers
- Hoist and Winch Operators88% · −10%
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining84% · −8%
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers84% · 0%
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers83% · +4%
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators83% · −4%
Change into riggers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Hoist and Winch Operators88% · $56,450
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas88% · $46,960
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining84% · $57,430
- Dredge Operators83% · $49,640
- Helpers--Electricians83% · $42,670