How Much Do Riggers Make?
Riggers set up and repair the rigging that moves heavy equipment and materials on job sites. Official pay data from the BLS May 2025 wage survey.
Median pay
$62,640
per year
Average (mean)
$66,810
per year
Range · 10th–90th
$40,680 – $97,850
bottom to top earners
The median rigger salary is $62,640 per year — 23% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations. About 22,530 people work in this trade nationwide.
Pay by percentile
| Percentile | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,680 | Entry level / lowest-paid areas |
| 25th | $48,210 | Early career |
| 50th — median | $62,640 | The typical worker |
| 75th | $80,180 | Experienced |
| 90th | $97,850 | Top earners / highest-paid areas |
Lifetime earnings potential
At today's median wage, here is what a career as a rigger adds up to (in constant 2025 dollars, before raises or promotions — a conservative floor, not a projection):
| Career length | At the median ($62,640/yr) | In the top 10% ($97,850/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $626,400 | $978,500 |
| 20 years | $1,252,800 | $1,957,000 |
| 30 years | $1,879,200 | $2,935,500 |
Reaching the top 10% instead of the median is worth $1,056,300 over a 30-year career — usually the gap between entry-level work and specialization, licenses, or high-paying states. Compare this trade against any other with the trade comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
- How much do riggers make?
- The median annual wage for riggers is $62,640 (BLS OES, May 2025). The middle 50% earn between $48,210 and $80,180.
- What do the top riggers earn?
- The top 10% of riggers earn $97,850 or more per year, while the bottom 10% earn $40,680 or less.
- Is $62,640 good pay?
- It is 23% above the median for all U.S. occupations ($50,980, BLS May 2025).