Jobs Similar to Riggers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to riggers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, Engine and Other Machine Assemblers and Refractory Materials Repairers.
Riggers: $62,640 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
82% similar · $39,630 (−37%) · High school · Same group
- 2Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
82% similar · $53,710 (−14%) · High school
- 3Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
80% similar · $61,290 (−2%) · High school · Same group
- 4Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
80% similar · $51,330 (−18%) · High school
- 5Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
80% similar · $57,430 (−8%) · High school
- 6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
80% similar · $74,340 (+19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $46,170 (−26%) · High school
- 8Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $63,870 (+2%) · High school
- 9Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $52,800 (−16%) · High school
- 10Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $46,330 (−26%) · High school
- 11Helpers--Electricians
79% similar · $42,670 (−32%) · High school
- 12Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
79% similar · $53,750 (−14%) · High school
- 13Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $49,080 (−22%) · High school
- 14Automotive Body and Related Repairers
79% similar · $54,890 (−12%) · High school
- 15Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $38,180 (−39%) · High school
- 16Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $39,530 (−37%) · High school
- 17Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $47,920 (−23%) · High school
- 18Machinists
79% similar · $58,750 (−6%) · Training or associate
- 19Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $44,350 (−29%) · High school
- 20Roof Bolters, Mining
78% similar · $78,540 (+25%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than riggers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for riggers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where riggers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Hoist and Winch Operators (88)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (88)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (84)
- Dredge Operators (83)
- Helpers--Electricians (83)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (83)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (82)
- Pile Driver Operators (82)
- Roof Bolters, Mining (82)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (81)
Questions about jobs like riggers
What jobs are most similar to riggers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (82% similar), Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (82% similar), Refractory Materials Repairers (80% similar), Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (80% similar) and Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (80% similar).
Which jobs like riggers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Roof Bolters ($78,540, +25%; usually a high school diploma), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers ($74,340, +19%; usually training or an associate degree) and Layout Workers ($63,870, +2%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with riggers ($62,640). Without more preparation than riggers usually need: Roof Bolters and Layout Workers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.