Best states for a heavy lift rigger

Q: What is the best state for heavy lift riggers?

The best state to be a heavy lift rigger is Alaska based on heavy lift rigger salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for heavy lift riggers?

The highest paying state for heavy lift riggers is Louisiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for heavy lift riggers?

The worst state for heavy lift riggers is Tennessee, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Do you want to become a heavy lift rigger at Randstad North America, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for heavy lift riggers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Although there are abundant heavy lift rigger jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Alaska is the best state in the country for heavy lift rigger jobs.

In order to get you the best states for heavy lift riggers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for heavy lift riggers, and the Northeast is the worst. Santa Rosa, CA is the best city in the country for heavy lift rigger jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.

10 best states for heavy lift riggers in 2026

1. Alaska
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 24
Average annual salary: $51,848
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
2.72
Heavy lift rigger jobs in Alaska
2. Maine
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 39
Average annual salary: $42,750
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Location Quotient:
2.78
Heavy lift rigger jobs in Maine
3. North Dakota
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $41,626
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000
Location Quotient:
1.73
Heavy lift rigger jobs in North Dakota
4. Pennsylvania
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 110
Average annual salary: $44,638
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Heavy lift rigger jobs in Pennsylvania
5. Virginia
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 102
Average annual salary: $40,189
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Heavy lift rigger jobs in Virginia
6. Washington
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 79
Average annual salary: $39,714
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Heavy lift rigger jobs in Washington
7. Wisconsin
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 60
Average annual salary: $37,431
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Heavy lift rigger jobs in Wisconsin
8. New York
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 73
Average annual salary: $45,106
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Location Quotient:
0.54
Heavy lift rigger jobs in New York
9. New Jersey
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 43
Average annual salary: $44,989
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Location Quotient:
0.51
Heavy lift rigger jobs in New Jersey
10. California
Total heavy lift rigger jobs: 250
Average annual salary: $42,980
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Heavy lift rigger jobs in California

Heavy lift rigger jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a heavy lift rigger

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a heavy lift rigger

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$51,848	$30,000	739,795	24
2	Maine	$42,750	$24,000	1,335,907	39
3	North Dakota	$41,626	$27,000	755,393	17
4	Pennsylvania	$44,638	$24,000	12,805,537	110
5	Virginia	$40,189	$22,000	8,470,020	102
6	Washington	$39,714	$22,000	7,405,743	79
7	Wisconsin	$37,431	$23,000	5,795,483	60
8	New York	$45,106	$25,000	19,849,399	73
9	New Jersey	$44,989	$24,000	9,005,644	43
10	California	$42,980	$24,000	39,536,653	250
11	Montana	$33,321	$20,000	1,050,493	30
12	New Hampshire	$34,621	$19,000	1,342,795	39
13	Michigan	$36,538	$21,000	9,962,311	74
14	Rhode Island	$36,279	$20,000	1,059,639	11
15	Utah	$33,370	$19,000	3,101,833	60
16	South Dakota	$32,690	$20,000	869,666	15
17	Oregon	$36,505	$20,000	4,142,776	40
18	Nebraska	$32,555	$20,000	1,920,076	34
19	Arizona	$35,780	$20,000	7,016,270	49
20	Vermont	$32,782	$18,000	623,657	31
21	Minnesota	$36,382	$23,000	5,576,606	47
22	Idaho	$32,591	$18,000	1,716,943	22
23	Connecticut	$36,191	$20,000	3,588,184	17
24	Indiana	$32,989	$19,000	6,666,818	66
25	Delaware	$34,338	$18,000	961,939	13
26	West Virginia	$31,060	$17,000	1,815,857	19
27	Iowa	$30,718	$18,000	3,145,711	66
28	Massachusetts	$35,728	$20,000	6,859,819	26
29	North Carolina	$30,912	$18,000	10,273,419	144
30	Wyoming	$29,359	$17,000	579,315	14
31	Ohio	$32,162	$18,000	11,658,609	75
32	Illinois	$33,166	$20,000	12,802,023	68
33	Maryland	$32,597	$18,000	6,052,177	54
34	Georgia	$28,619	$17,000	10,429,379	157
35	South Carolina	$27,615	$16,000	5,024,369	103
36	Nevada	$27,878	$15,000	2,998,039	36
37	Missouri	$31,302	$19,000	6,113,532	43
38	Hawaii	$35,320	$28,000	1,427,538	6
39	Mississippi	$30,137	$17,000	2,984,100	19
40	Alabama	$26,853	$16,000	4,874,747	60
41	Kansas	$27,177	$16,000	2,913,123	41
42	New Mexico	$27,812	$16,000	2,088,070	25
43	Oklahoma	$29,173	$17,000	3,930,864	24
44	Colorado	$24,960	$15,000	5,607,154	116
45	District of Columbia	$31,912	$17,000	693,972	4
46	Texas	$26,377	$15,000	28,304,596	232
47	Louisiana	$21,272	$12,000	4,684,333	70
48	Kentucky	$25,572	$15,000	4,454,189	39
49	Florida	$26,302	$15,000	20,984,400	162
50	Arkansas	$25,244	$15,000	3,004,279	28
51	Tennessee	$25,366	$15,000	6,715,984	47

Highest paying states for heavy lift riggers

Rank	State	Avg. Heavy Lift Rigger Salary
1	Alaska	$51,848
2	Maine	$42,750
3	North Dakota	$41,626
4	Pennsylvania	$44,638
5	Virginia	$40,189
6	Washington	$39,714
7	Wisconsin	$37,431
8	New York	$45,106
9	New Jersey	$44,989
10	California	$42,980
11	Montana	$33,321
12	New Hampshire	$34,621
13	Michigan	$36,538
14	Rhode Island	$36,279
15	Utah	$33,370
16	South Dakota	$32,690
17	Oregon	$36,505
18	Nebraska	$32,555
19	Arizona	$35,780
20	Vermont	$32,782
21	Minnesota	$36,382
22	Idaho	$32,591
23	Connecticut	$36,191
24	Indiana	$32,989
25	Delaware	$34,338
26	West Virginia	$31,060
27	Iowa	$30,718
28	Massachusetts	$35,728
29	North Carolina	$30,912
30	Wyoming	$29,359
31	Ohio	$32,162
32	Illinois	$33,166
33	Maryland	$32,597
34	Georgia	$28,619
35	South Carolina	$27,615
36	Nevada	$27,878
37	Missouri	$31,302
38	Hawaii	$35,320
39	Mississippi	$30,137
40	Alabama	$26,853
41	Kansas	$27,177
42	New Mexico	$27,812
43	Oklahoma	$29,173
44	Colorado	$24,960
45	District of Columbia	$31,912
46	Texas	$26,377
47	Louisiana	$21,272
48	Kentucky	$25,572
49	Florida	$26,302
50	Arkansas	$25,244
51	Tennessee	$25,366

Heavy lift rigger best states FAQs

What is the best state for heavy lift riggers?

What is the highest paying state for heavy lift riggers?

What is the worst state for heavy lift riggers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common installation, maintenance and repair questions.

Search for heavy lift rigger jobs

Zippia Careers
Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Heavy Lift Rigger
Best states for Heavy Lift Riggers

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs

Total heavy lift rigger jobs:	24
Average annual salary:	$51,848
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$87,000
Location Quotient:	2.72

Best states for a heavy lift rigger

10 best states for heavy lift riggers in 2026

1. Alaska

2. Maine

3. North Dakota

4. Pennsylvania

5. Virginia

6. Washington

7. Wisconsin

8. New York

9. New Jersey

10. California