What does a rigger do?
Riggers usually work in the construction, manufacturing, mining or shipbuilding industries. A rigger operates rigging gear to transport heavy loads on worksites. The role involves preparing materials before loading, setting up the rigging gear, operating heavy machinery and dismantling the equipment at the end.
A successful rigger is safety-conscious and enjoys hands-on work in a team environment. Riggers communicate with their team at all times and need to make sure safety procedures are followed.
The day-to-day duties of a rigger vary depending on their industry. An oil rigger, for example, operates drills to extract oil, while a construction rigger works with cranes and pulley systems, and a mining rigger navigates heavy loads through confined spaces.
Rigger skills and qualifications
A rigger should have the following skills and aptitudes in order to perform their role well:
- technical aptitude and good spatial awareness
- comfortable working at heights
- happy to work outdoors in varying weather conditions
- safety-conscious
- excellent communication skills
- physical ability to lift and operate equipment
Rigger experience requirements
A budding rigger can undergo vocational training, e.g. through TAFE or a registered training provider, to obtain a certificate in rigging. An accompanying internship is a great way to get practical experience at the same time.
A distinction is made between basic, intermediate and advanced rigging work. Anyone who wants to perform advanced rigging work needs to be aged 18 or older and obtain a high-risk work licence, which permits them to perform potentially dangerous tasks like operating rigging gear.
Rigger education and training requirements
A rigger must meet a number of requirements in order to be permitted to operate rigging gear on construction sites in Australia. Most employers require them to have completed Year 10 schooling, although this is not a formal training entry requirement.
Required is a Certificate III in Rigging and completion of general safety induction training with a registered training organisation to obtain a general construction induction card (previously known as ‘White Card’).
A basic, intermediate or advanced rigging licence and, for advanced rigging work, a high-risk work licence must also be obtained. This is accompanied by practical experience through an internship or work experience, and additional training as required, e.g. a Work Safety at Heights training course.
Rigger salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a rigger is $44.28 per hour. Rigger salaries are largely similar across all cities and states, but more remote areas in the Northern Territory and Western Australia are recording slightly higher salaries for riggers.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are a few roles with similar duties to a rigger. Take a look to see if you need to hire one of these workers in addition to or instead of a rigger for your site:
Rigger job description FAQs
Is rigger a FIFO job?
Rigger can be a local or a FIFO job, depending on the industry. FIFO – or ‘fly-in-fly-out’ – refers to workers who fly to a job site for work, typically for a week or two at a time, before flying back home for a break. FIFO jobs are especially common in rural areas and in the mining industry, so some riggers will be required to work in FIFO roles.
FIFO workers tend to work long hours with little time off while they are on site. The most common FIFO arrangement is 7 days on, 7 days off, or 14 days on, 14 days off. Employers usually cover the FIFO worker’s accommodation, transportation and meals, and FIFO salaries are often attractive to make up for the inconvenience.
Is rigger a stressful job?
Operating rigging gear can be a risky activity that requires constant concentration. Riggers need to be aware of the risks and challenges that come with the role. A lot of technical skill is required to manoeuvre loads safely and precisely, so riggers need to be switched on at all times, as their job carries a lot of responsibility . This can make being a rigger stressful but rewarding.
Do riggers work on movie sets?
In addition to the more traditional rigger roles, there are also riggers in the entertainment industry. They typically work on stage productions or on television show or movie sets, where they operate pulleys, ropes, lifts, booms and hoists to manoeuvre lighting, camera equipment or set pieces. Entertainment riggers might also need to set up scaffolding or even move actors at heights to simulate them flying.
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