Riggers

What Riggers do

Riggers figure out how to lift and move things too heavy for people, using cables, pulleys and hoists, without anyone getting hurt.

A rigger plans and sets up the gear that lifts heavy loads: cables, slings (strong straps or loops that wrap around a load), pulleys, winches (drums that reel in cable) and hoists (machines that lift by pulling a cable or chain). You might move a factory machine through a doorway barely wider than it is, raise steel on a construction site, work on ships in a shipyard, or lift and lower scenery above a stage. You pick gear that matches the weight and size of the load, attach it, test it, guide the lift, then take everything down and store it.

Part of the job is judgment. You read plans and load charts (tables showing how much weight a cable or sling can safely hold), do the math, and watch for anything that looks wrong. The rest is people. Lifts happen with a crew, and you signal or call out directions so everyone moves together.

A day in the life

You arrive, get the plan, and look at what has to move today. You check the weight, the space, and the path it has to travel. You choose slings, cables and pulleys to match, then inspect every piece for wear before it takes a load. You attach the load, test the setup, and give the signal. As the load rises you tilt and turn it to clear a beam or a doorway, calling out to the crew and listening for their calls back. Some days you are outside in rain or heat, some days inside a hot plant with no air conditioning. You stand, use your hands, and wear a hard hat and harness. At the end you break down the rigging and store it.

How people get in

1. 1Finish high school or an equivalent, which is the typical education employers expect.
2. 2Build basic skills that carry over: hand and power tools, reading plans and charts, and simple math for weights and measurements.
3. 3Look for entry work on construction crews, in plants, shipyards, logging yards, or stage and event crews, where you can start as a helper.
4. 4Learn on the job. This career usually involves moderate-term training on site, working alongside experienced riggers until you can plan lifts yourself.
5. 5Ask employers or a local union office (an organization that represents workers in the trade) about the safety training and certifications they require in your area, since rules vary by state and industry.
6. 6Keep growing by learning crane signaling (directing a crane operator with hand signals or radio), machinery moving, or stage rigging, and consider related work like operating cranes or millwright work (installing and maintaining factory machines).

Who tends to enjoy it

Official task list

Riggers set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry. (O*NET)

• 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.

A typical day involves

How much Riggers make

The median pay for Riggers in the U.S. is $62,640 a year ($30.12 an hour). Most earn between $40,680 and $97,850. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)

Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in New York ($105,600) and lowest in New Mexico ($37,440).

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