Career Overview

Riggers are skilled tradespeople who prepare and move heavy equipment, machinery, and materials using ropes, cables, pulleys, winches, and other mechanical rigging equipment. They work closely with crane operators to calculate load weights, select appropriate rigging gear, and attach loads securely, ensuring nothing shifts or falls during a lift. Riggers are found on construction sites, in shipyards, at manufacturing plants, in the entertainment industry setting up stage equipment, and in the oil and gas sector.

Salary Range (US, estimates)

Key Statistics

Education Paths

• Required minimum: High School Diploma or GED — Most employers require a high school diploma along with on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program.
• Most common: Apprenticeship / Trade Program — Formal apprenticeships combining paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction in rigging, load calculations, and safety.
• Accelerator: NCCCO Rigger Certification — National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators certification boosts hireability and often leads to higher pay and advancement.

Core Skills

• Load calculation and weight distribution
• Knot tying and hardware selection
• Crane and hoist signal communication
• Safety inspection and hazard assessment
• Physical strength and stamina
• Blueprint and rigging plan interpretation

Pros

• Strong demand in construction, entertainment, and industrial sectors
• Hands-on, tangible work with visible results
• Good pay relative to education requirements
• Opportunities to specialize in high-paying niches like offshore or film rigging

Cons

• Physically demanding and can be hazardous
• Exposure to extreme weather and outdoor conditions
• Irregular hours and travel for project-based work
• Requires ongoing certification and safety training

AI Impact on This Career

Rigging requires hands-on physical work, spatial judgment, and real-time safety decisions in dynamic environments, making it highly resistant to automation. AI is beginning to assist with load calculations, planning software, and crane sensor systems, but the physical act of rigging and manual inspection still requires a skilled human.

Automation exposure: Load calculation software, digital planning tools, and sensor-based monitoring systems for crane and load stability may automate some planning and safety-check documentation tasks.

The human edge: Physical dexterity, on-the-spot problem solving in unpredictable environments, tactile inspection of equipment, and split-second safety judgment cannot be replicated by AI or robotics currently.

Figures are estimates for exploration — verify current data with BLS.gov.