Rigger salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a rigger is $93,600 per annum, before tax, up $19,700 since 2018.
Pay follows the level of high risk work licence you hold, so advanced rigging and crane-related licences earn more than basic rigging. Mining, oil and gas and remote construction projects pay above metropolitan building work, though they usually mean long swings away from home. Overtime and enterprise agreements matter as well, because rigging crews are often pushing a project toward a deadline.
Roles that pay more than rigger
The largest typical pay rise is $83,800 a year, moving into Crane Operator.
- Crane Operator+$83,800/yr
- Miner+$57,600/yr
- Earthmoving Plant Operator+$9,400/yr
How to negotiate a higher rigger salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time rigger salary is $93,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Riggers are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Plant and equipment operation and Worksite safety management tend to command a premium over general rigger experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Crane Operator pays a typical $83,800 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Rigger salary questions
How much do riggers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a rigger is $93,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is rigger pay rising or falling?
The median rigger salary is up $19,700 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than rigger?
Crane Operator pays a typical $83,800 a year more and draws on similar skills to rigger.