Rigger vs heavy lift rigger

The differences between riggers and heavy lift riggers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a rigger has an average salary of $41,723, which is higher than the $37,204 average annual salary of a heavy lift rigger.

The top three skills for a rigger include cranes, hand tools and hoisting. The most important skills for a heavy lift rigger are cranes, pallets, and assembly line.

Rigger vs heavy lift rigger overview

	Rigger	Heavy Lift Rigger
Yearly salary	$41,723	$37,204
Hourly rate	$20.06	$17.89
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	426	5,076
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 50%	High School Diploma, 72%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

Rigger vs heavy lift rigger salary

Riggers and heavy lift riggers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Rigger	Heavy Lift Rigger
Average salary	$41,723	$37,204
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $60,000	Between $22,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	California	Alaska
Best paying company	Naughty Dog	Rich Products
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between rigger and heavy lift rigger education

There are a few differences between a rigger and a heavy lift rigger in terms of educational background:

	Rigger	Heavy Lift Rigger
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 50%	High School Diploma, 72%
Most common major	Business	Computer Science
Most common college	-	-

Rigger vs heavy lift rigger demographics

Here are the differences between riggers' and heavy lift riggers' demographics:

	Rigger	Heavy Lift Rigger
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%	Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.4% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.4% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between rigger and heavy lift rigger duties and responsibilities

Rigger example responsibilities.

Man air tuggers during lifts where cranes aren't capable of reaching.
Acquire CDL license with HAZMAT endorsement and receive extensive training in crane operation and proper handling/disposal of hazardous materials.
Execute the attachment of pulleys and blocks to fix overhead structures such as beams, and bulkheads using bolts and clamps.
Acquire CDL and hazmat license.
Align, level, and anchor machinery, dismantle.
Crane ops and tuggers used to install spool pieces.

Heavy lift rigger example responsibilities.

Inspect and maintain manual hoists.
Operate Toyota forklift, cherry pickers, Taylor forklifts, overhead cranes
Perform general repairs and maintenance on major and minor rig components.
Run fork lift an man lift an rig on items to be lift
Install grind rigging for yarding lines, attaching chokers to logs and then the lines.
Well verse in effectively communicating hoisting problems to concern personnel.

Rigger vs heavy lift rigger skills

Common rigger skills

Cranes, 14%
Hand Tools, 9%
Hoisting, 9%
Pulleys, 9%
Ladders, 7%
Slings, 7%

Common heavy lift rigger skills

Cranes, 39%
Pallets, 29%
Assembly Line, 16%
Rig, 4%
Critical Lifts, 3%
Pulleys, 2%

Rigger vs. similar jobs

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Heavy Lift Rigger responsibilities

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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Rigger
Rigger vs Heavy Lift Rigger

Updated January 8, 2025

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