Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Riggers work in a skilled, hands-on occupation that combines physical ability with mechanical understanding and careful attention to detail. Nationally, there are about 25,000 riggers, with a median annual salary of $62,060 and projected employment growth of 3.2%. This indicates a steady need for workers in this field, supported by about 2,000 annual openings. The role suits people who bring strong physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and a detail-oriented mindset, while also using problem solving, mechanical skills, and interpersonal abilities. Career paths can vary geographically, with some states and metro areas offering higher pay or different employment levels. For individuals interested in other hands-on, technical roles, related occupations include tree trimmers and pruners, electrical power-line installers and repairers, engine and other machine assemblers, pipelayers, and helpers in installation, maintenance, and repair. Overall, rigging offers a practical career option grounded in skill, precision, and physical work.
Riggers earn a national median annual salary of $62,060, but pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York stands out with a median salary of $105,600, followed by California at $85,730, Washington at $77,100, and Colorado at $73,720. Massachusetts has a lower median salary at $53,500. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area offers a median salary of $103,030, and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area offers $96,880. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $82,370 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria at $69,030, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a median of $53,110. These figures suggest that earnings potential for riggers is highly location-dependent, with some states and metro areas offering substantially higher median pay than the national median, while others align more closely with or fall below it.
Nationally, riggers have total employment of about 25,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 3.2%. This growth rate is also reflected consistently in the highlighted states and metro areas, each showing a 3.2% projection. The occupation is expected to have about 2,000 annual openings, which include new positions as well as openings created when workers change jobs or leave the labor force. Together, these indicators point to a stable labor market with ongoing demand rather than rapid expansion or decline. For individuals considering long-term prospects, the combination of existing employment levels, steady projected growth, and recurring annual openings suggests that riggers should continue to play a defined role in the workforce. People who develop and maintain the listed core skills—such as mechanical abilities, physical strength and stamina, and problem solving—will be better positioned to compete for these opportunities as they arise.
Career conditions for riggers vary by state and metro area, especially in terms of pay and employment concentration. Among the top states by opportunity score, California and New York stand out with both higher median salaries ($85,730 and $105,600, respectively) and larger employment counts (2,260 in California and 650 in New York). Washington and Colorado offer mid-to-high median salaries of $77,100 and $73,720, with moderate employment levels of 910 and 310. Massachusetts has a lower median salary of $53,500 and smaller employment at 240, though it still ranks highly by opportunity score. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City combines a high median salary of $103,030 with employment of 620 and the highest listed opportunity score. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont in California also show strong salary levels, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria offer moderate to solid pay with smaller employment totals.
The typical education requirement for riggers is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a pathway accessible to individuals who do not plan to complete a four-year college degree. However, success in this field relies heavily on a specific skill set. Physical strength and stamina are important, along with fine motor abilities and being detail oriented. Mechanical skills are central, supported by problem solving and decision-making capabilities. Interpersonal skills and customer service can also play a role, especially in environments where riggers interact with clients or team members. Additional strengths such as leadership and creativity and innovation may help workers contribute to planning and improving work processes. Science knowledge is another part of the overall skill profile. Together, these skills create a blend of physical, technical, and people-focused abilities that support performance and advancement within this occupation and potentially into related hands-on technical roles.
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