How to become a rigger in Baton Rouge

Riggers attach, support and move heavy loads using cables, hoists and other gear. This guide covers what the job involves, how people get started, the qualified rigger and signal person rules, what the numbers say about pay, and what to ask before you apply.

The federal job database ONET describes riggers as people who set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or the entertainment industry. Reported job titles include Heavy Lift Rigger, Gantry Rigger, Machinery Mover and Machinery Erector. ONET lists tasks such as selecting gear like cables, pulleys and winches for the weight and size of the load, attaching loads to rigging, testing rigging to make sure it is safe and reliable, signaling or verbally directing workers who are hoisting and moving loads, and controlling the movement of heavy equipment through narrow openings.

How people usually get started

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not publish a handbook profile for riggers. O*NET puts the job in a preparation group where a high school diploma or GED is usually required, though some jobs in the group do not require one, and where training ranges from a few days to a year on the job. We did not find an official apprenticeship description for riggers, so ask employers how new riggers are trained.

The North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI) at Baton Rouge Community College lists electrical, instrumentation, millwright, pipefitting, process technology and welding tracks, and no rigging track. We did not find a BRCC rigging program, and we have not confirmed any other Baton Rouge rigging school. Ask local industrial contractors and crane companies how they hire and train riggers. Because millwrights use cranes, hoists and winches in their work, you may also see rigging come up in the millwright guide.

Rules and certifications

Federal construction safety rules for cranes and derricks (OSHA 29 CFR part 1926, subpart CC) define a qualified person as someone who, by a recognized degree, certificate or professional standing, or by extensive knowledge, training and experience, has shown the ability to solve problems related to the work, and say that a qualified rigger is a rigger who meets those criteria. The same rules require the employer of a signal person to make sure that person meets the qualification requirements before giving signals, either with documentation from a third-party qualified evaluator or by assessment from the employer's own qualified evaluator. These rules apply to construction work, so ask employers which rules apply to the site you would work on.

NCCER offers a Rigger and Signal Person Certification Program. It says the program's assessments and practical examinations meet or exceed current ASME B30 safety standards and OSHA subpart CC. NCCER also lists Rigging and Hoisting as a discipline in its craft catalog. Other organizations certify riggers too, and we could not check them, so ask employers which certification they accept.

Many industrial sites also require a TWIC card. Federal rules say anyone needing unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and facilities regulated under the Coast Guard's maritime security rules must have one, and whether a plant requires it for contractors depends on the plant. See the pipefitter guide for more on TWIC and safety orientations.

Pay and demand

BLS's May 2025 estimates show about 22,530 riggers nationally, with a median wage of $30.12 an hour (about $62,640 a year).

For the Baton Rouge area, the same estimates show about 410 riggers, with a median of $28.29 an hour (about $58,840 a year) and a middle 80 percent range of $16.87 to $36.15 an hour. That local median is a little below the national one. BLS's location quotient is 6.85, meaning riggers make up almost seven times the share of local jobs that they do nationally. The count is small, so the survey estimate is less precise than for larger occupations.

Questions to ask before you apply

• How are new riggers trained, and is the training paid?
• Which certifications does the employer expect, and who pays for them?
• Will I work toward qualified rigger and signal person status?
• What cards or safety courses do I need before the first day, and who pays?
• What does a typical week look like, including nights, weekends and shutdowns?
• What lifting equipment and loads will I work with?

What this guide does not cover yet

Apprenticeships and training programs for riggers in Baton Rouge, other certifications, and specific employers.

Spot something out of date?

Programs, prices and requirements change. If something here is wrong or has changed, please tell us at [email protected] and we will check it.