Hangs the lights, speakers, video walls and scenery for concerts, arena shows and theatres from overhead steel, safely and against the clock. BLS does not publish separate figures for riggers; it counts them within rigger (SOC 49-9096), whose median pay is $62,640 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9096
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Entertainment Rigger in four numbers
- Median pay
- $62,640a year, or $30.12/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $41KTop 10% $98K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.9%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,70022,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202522.5K
- Projected 203523.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 22.5K Projected 2035 23.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school21.2%
- High school62.9%
- Certificate16%
Highest education held by riggers Segment Value Less than high school 21.2% High school 62.9% Certificate 16%
Also advertised as: Arena Rigger, Theatre Rigger, Concert Rigger, Head Rigger, Production Rigger.
Pay
How much do Riggers make?
Every entertainment rigger in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$62,640
Middle half earn $48,210 to $80,180
- 10th
- $40,680
- 25th
- $48,210
- 75th
- $80,180
- 90th
- $97,850
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,680 |
| 25th | $48,210 |
| Median | $62,640 |
| 75th | $80,180 |
| 90th | $97,850 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $62,640
- Median hourly wage
- $30.12/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,810
- People employed
- 22,530
Versus all US occupations
At $62,640, Riggers earn 23% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,660 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
The median is typical for the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $97,850 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,680, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 36% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $105,600, and still leads at $97,849 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Riggers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $105,600 | $97,849 | 650 |
| 2Oregon | $94,470 | $91,398 | 290 |
| 3Utah | $93,640 | $94,716 | 490 |
| 4Maryland | $91,420 | $87,101 | 230 |
| 5Minnesota | $87,120 | $88,338 | 190 |
| 6California | $85,730 | $77,430 | 2,260 |
| 7Hawaii | $84,410 | $76,771 | 170 |
| 8New Jersey | $82,130 | $75,484 | 200 |
| 9Illinois | $81,860 | $81,894 | 120 |
| 10Nevada | $81,720 | $81,737 | 860 |
Job outlook
Is Entertainment Rigger a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Riggers | +3.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Riggers to change 3.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,700 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 22,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Entertainment Rigger
Most entertainment riggers start as stagehands, often through a local of IATSE, the stagehands' union, or as crew for production and staging companies, and learn rigging from experienced riggers. Comfort with heights, climbing skills and math for load calculations are essential.
The main credential is ETCP certification from the Entertainment Technician Certification Program, with separate Arena and Theatre rigger exams. Candidates must be at least 21 and document substantial rigging work experience, and certification is renewed through continuing education or re-examination. Many venues and tours prefer or require ETCP-certified riggers for head rigger roles.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as riggers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)62.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma21.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 62.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 21.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 16% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Entertainment Rigger do?
Entertainment riggers suspend heavy equipment over stages and audiences. For concerts and arena shows, up riggers climb into the roof steel of a venue and hang chain motors from precise points, while down riggers on the floor assemble bridles and truss that will lift lights, speakers, video walls and set pieces.
In theatres, riggers work with counterweight and motorized fly systems that move scenery during performances. Riggers read rigging plots, calculate loads and bridle angles, inspect hardware, and work with production managers to make sure the venue's structure can carry what a show plans to hang. When the show is over, they take it all down safely and quickly.
Day-to-day tasks
- Read rigging plots and mark hanging points on venue floors
- Climb roof steel and hang chain motors and spansets
- Assemble bridles, truss and hardware for suspended equipment
- Calculate loads, bridle angles and point capacities
- Operate counterweight and motorized fly systems in theatres
- Inspect rigging hardware before and after use
- Coordinate lifts with lighting, audio and video crews
- Take down rigging safely during load-out
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Riggers work in arenas, stadiums, theatres and convention centers, often climbing beams far above the floor. Load-ins start early and load-outs run late into the night. Touring riggers travel with a production for months, while local riggers work for venues or union halls with irregular, show-driven schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning2.6
- Writing2.4
- Mathematics1.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.4 |
| Mathematics | 1.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Equipment Selection2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Entertainment Rigger?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RCA) built on O*NET's Rigger profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Entertainment Rigger |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.5
- Artistic2.7
- Investigative2.4
- Enterprising1.9
- Social1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Entertainment Rigger
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Except Engines
$65,510median a year
Most earn $47K to $94K
+6.7%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator
$46,420median a year
Most earn $37K to $63K
+1.5%No formal credential - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with riggers highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Entertainment Rigger$62,640
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Entertainment Rigger | $62,640 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Entertainment Rigger appears on
Questions
Entertainment Rigger: frequently asked questions
How much do Riggers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for riggers. It counts them within rigger, whose median pay is $62,640 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $48,210 and $80,180, and the top 10% earn $97,850 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Entertainment Rigger?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Riggers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Entertainment Rigger a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.9% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Entertainment Rigger do?
Entertainment riggers suspend heavy equipment over stages and audiences. A typical task: read rigging plots and mark hanging points on venue floors. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Riggers the most?
The highest state medians for Riggers are New York ($105,600), Oregon ($94,470), Utah ($93,640) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Entertainment Rigger?
O*NET scores Riggers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.