What is the salary and career path for a rigging supervisor?
There is no separate BLS occupation for rigging supervisors, so the figure here is approximate: they are counted within First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, SOC 47-1011 — a broad code covering foremen across every construction trade, not rigging specifically — with an OEWS May 2025 median of $79,920 a year ($38.42 an hour) and a range from $53,280 at the 10th percentile to $128,260 at the 90th. Because the code is broad, treat it as an indicator of construction supervisory pay rather than a rigging-specific wage. BLS projects 5.3% growth for the code over 2024–2034 with about 74,400 openings a year across all trades. The role is reached by promotion from the rigging, ironworking or millwright trades; OSHA 1926 subpart CC defines qualified rigger and signalperson roles and the lift director's responsibilities, and some jurisdictions, notably New York City, license master and special riggers directly.
- Rigging Supervisors earn a national median $79,920/yr ($38.42/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-1011); the top 10% clear $128,260.
- There is no rigging-specific BLS occupation; the $79,920 figure is the broad First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades code (SOC 47-1011) and should be read as approximate.
- The role is reached by promotion from rigging, ironworking or millwright work — OSHA 1926 subpart CC qualified rigger and signalperson status is the practical gate.
- Industrial turnarounds, critical lift planning and crane certification are what carry pay from the median toward the $128,260 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a rigging supervisor?
Rigger / trade journeyman
Working as a rigger, ironworker or millwright hand; entry supervisory pay in the broad SOC 47-1011 code starts near the 10th percentile of $53,280.
Rigging supervisor / foreman
Running rigging crews, selecting hardware and signalling picks, near the $79,920 median for first-line construction supervisors.
Lift director / heavy rigging superintendent
Owning critical lift plans, crane configuration and multi-crane picks pays toward the 75th percentile of $101,460.
Rigging or heavy-lift operations manager
Managing engineered heavy-lift projects, crane fleets and rigging engineering staff reaches the 90th percentile at $128,260.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays rigging supervisors the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-1011. National median: $79,920. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does rigging supervisor pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles rigging supervisors most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: rigging supervisors rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5.3% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly rigging supervisors clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-1011 (rigging supervisors) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do rigging supervisors need?
Required in substance by OSHA 1926 subpart CC; third-party rigger and signalperson certification is the usual documentation employers accept. See all state licences →
Many rigging supervisors also hold accredited mobile crane operator certification, which is required for operators under OSHA 1926.1427 and makes lift planning far more credible.
Some jurisdictions license rigging directly — New York City's master rigger and special rigger licences are the best-known example, with documented experience and examination requirements.
Supervisory-level safety training, including the crane, rigging and fall-protection subparts the role is accountable for.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do rigging supervisors use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 47-1011
Salary Levers
How do rigging supervisors earn above the $79,920 BLS median?
Industrial, refinery and power outage work
Turnaround and shutdown rigging pays far above general construction supervision within the $53,280 to $128,260 spread of the broad code
Critical lift and engineered heavy-lift capability
Supervisors who plan multi-crane and engineered picks earn toward the $101,460 seventy-fifth percentile
Crane operator certification alongside rigging
Holding both credentials makes a supervisor far harder to replace and commands a premium
Moving into heavy-lift operations management
Running crane fleets and rigging engineering is what reaches the $128,260 top decile
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a rigging supervisor worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-1011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Rigging Supervisor Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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