Rigger demographics and statistics in the US
Rigger demographics research summary. Zippia estimates rigger demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our rigger estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about riggers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 16,789 riggers currently employed in the United States.
- 4.3% of all riggers are women, while 95.7% are men.
- The average rigger age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of riggers is White (56.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.4%), Black or African American (16.2%) and Unknown (7.4%).
- Riggers are most in-demand in San Diego, CA.
- Los Angeles, CA pays an annual average wage of $54,609, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women riggers earned 88% of what men earned.
- Utah is the best state for riggers to live.
- Riggers are 82% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Rigger demographics by:
Rigger gender statistics
4.3% of riggers are women and 95.7% of riggers are men.
- Male, 95.7%
- Female, 4.3%
Rigger gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 95.7% |
| Female | 4.3% |
Rigger gender pay gap
Women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$43,652
Female income
$38,617
Rigger gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in rigger positions over time. Currently, 4.3% of riggers are female.
Rigger gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 98.49% | 1.51% |
| 2011 | 95.50% | 4.50% |
| 2012 | 94.73% | 5.27% |
| 2013 | 95.70% | 4.30% |
| 2014 | 96.80% | 3.20% |
| 2015 | 94.49% | 5.51% |
| 2016 | 98.53% | 1.47% |
| 2017 | 95.95% | 4.05% |
| 2018 | 96.80% | 3.20% |
| 2019 | 90.14% | 9.86% |
| 2020 | 94.09% | 5.91% |
| 2021 | 95.70% | 4.30% |
Rigger related jobs gender ratio
We compared riggers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, millwright supervisor and machine repairman have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Mender | 16% | 84% |
| Hydraulic Press Servicer | 22% | 78% |
| Assigner | 34% | 66% |
| Rigger | 96% | 4% |
| Flooring Mechanic | 99% | 1% |
| Machine Repairman | 100% | 0% |
| Millwright Supervisor | 100% | 0% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Rigger demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among riggers is White, which makes up 56.0% of all riggers. Comparatively, 17.4% of riggers are Hispanic or Latino and 16.2% of riggers are Black or African American.
- White, 56.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.4%
- Black or African American, 16.2%
- Unknown, 7.4%
- Asian, 2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Rigger race
| Rigger race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 56.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.4% |
| Black or African American | 16.2% |
| Unknown | 7.4% |
| Asian | 2.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6% |
Rigger race and ethnicity over time
See how rigger racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Rigger race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60.24% | 19.05% | 1.06% | 16.88% |
| 2011 | 58.15% | 15.98% | 2.27% | 14.75% |
| 2012 | 55.39% | 17.59% | 1.09% | 17.38% |
| 2013 | 52.18% | 17.22% | 3.14% | 21.34% |
| 2014 | 67.28% | 11.98% | 3.24% | 16.03% |
| 2015 | 62.07% | 14.20% | 1.82% | 16.83% |
| 2016 | 63.58% | 10.22% | 2.65% | 18.20% |
| 2017 | 61.36% | 14.91% | 2.54% | 16.11% |
| 2018 | 58.60% | 13.88% | 3.17% | 19.29% |
| 2019 | 63.80% | 6.68% | 2.84% | 20.07% |
| 2020 | 56.29% | 14.15% | 2.39% | 20.19% |
| 2021 | 55.95% | 16.16% | 2.39% | 17.40% |
Rigger wage gap by race
According to our data, white riggers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american riggers have the lowest average salary at $42,381.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,707 |
| White | $45,023 |
| Black or African American | $42,381 |
| Asian | $43,849 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,341 |
Rigger age breakdown
The average age of riggers is 40+ years years old, representing 43% of the rigger population.
Rigger age breakdown
| Rigger Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 43% |
| 30-40 years | 37% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Rigger educational attainment
The most common degree for riggers is high school diploma, with 50% of riggers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 15% and bachelor's degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 50%
- Bachelor's, 15%
- Diploma, 14%
- Associate, 13%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Riggers by degree level
| Rigger degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 50% |
| Bachelor's | 15% |
| Diploma | 14% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Rigger jobs you might like
Rigger wage gap by degree level
According to the data, riggers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $50,172 annually. With a Associate degree, riggers earn a median annual income of $45,199 compared to $42,868 for riggers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,172 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $40,200 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,868 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $45,199 |
Rigger employment statistics
Most riggers work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where riggers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where riggers work.
Rigger jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 29% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Rigger jobs by company type
Employees with the rigger job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most riggers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Rigger jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 15% |
| Private | 82% |
| Government | 2% |
Rigger jobs by industry
The most common industries for riggers are construction, manufacturing and professional.
Rigger industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 23% |
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Energy | 11% |
| Transportation | 7% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Rigger turnover and employment statistics
Rigger unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for riggers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Rigger unemployment rate by year
| Year | Rigger unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.41% |
| 2011 | 12.60% |
| 2012 | 12.26% |
| 2013 | 9.09% |
| 2014 | 9.02% |
| 2015 | 2.44% |
| 2016 | 3.33% |
| 2017 | 4.20% |
| 2018 | 1.77% |
| 2019 | 1.02% |
| 2020 | 8.45% |
| 2021 | 8.40% |
Average rigger tenure
The average rigger stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 8,042 riggers resumes in Zippia's database.
Rigger tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 39% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 10% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Rigger LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of riggers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration Technician | 1.73% | 131,115 |
| Millwright Foreman | 2.00% | 7,457 |
| Certified Master Safecracker | 3.52% | 42,525 |
| Blacksmith Assistant | 3.67% | 3,038 |
| Vacuum Repairer | 3.71% | 3,615 |
| Band Instrument Repairer | 8.86% | 6,775 |
| Rigger | 11.32% | - |
Similar rigger jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration Technician | 1.73% | 131,115 |
| Millwright Foreman | 2.00% | 7,457 |
| Certified Master Safecracker | 3.52% | 42,525 |
| Blacksmith Assistant | 3.67% | 3,038 |
| Vacuum Repairer | 3.71% | 3,615 |
| Band Instrument Repairer | 8.86% | 6,775 |
Foreign languages spoken by riggers
The most common foreign language among riggers is Spanish at 62.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.9% and Carrier is the third-most popular at 5.9%.
- Spanish, 62.7%
- French, 5.9%
- Carrier, 5.9%
- Russian, 5.9%
- Portuguese, 2.0%
- Other, 17.6%
Rigger languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 62.7% |
| French | 5.9% |
| Carrier | 5.9% |
| Russian | 5.9% |
| Portuguese | 2.0% |
| Other | 17.6% |
