If you enjoy practical outdoor work, are good with your hands and can handle heights with ease, you might be suited to becoming a rigger. Riggers are skilled tradesmen who specialise in moving machinery, structural steel and other heavy objects around worksites by using rigging gear such as pulleys, winches, cables and ropes. They play a pivotal role on construction sites and are also responsible for performing quick calculations that are essential for engineering principles and loads. You can feel confident that each day will be different and packed with action.
There’s a clear path you can take to working as a rigger in Australia. Find out what rigger training and experience you need to secure employment in the industry.
Duties & Tasks
Riggers work predominately outdoors on construction sites. However, they are also required in the entertainment industry to assist with tasks such as setting up and disassembling stages. They can also work in factories, mines and onboard ships.
Once you have your rigging licence, you can expect to take on tasks where you:
- Calculate load weights to determine the type of equipment required to move them
- Use rigging gear to transport, move and install heavy items
- Reinforce scaffolding as needed and disassemble scaffolding at the completion of the project
- Erect cranes and extend the height of tower cranes
- Build temporary lifting devices as needed
- Inspect, maintain and repair equipment
- Fasten ropes and cables to create slings and tackle
- Make sure safety requirements are being met at all times.
To become a rigger, it’s vital that you’re able to cope with the physical demands of the job. The first step to getting your rigger’s ticket is to enrol in a basic rigging course that will teach you the fundamentals of the trade.
Get Qualified
Before you get started on a worksite, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to get you there.
Choose a Course
Riggers need to have specialised knowledge in order to carry out their work. This is learned through undertaking rigger courses. It’s important to choose an accredited rigging course that is a nationally recognised qualification in order to be able to work anywhere in Australia. These specific rigger courses will provide you with industry insight and key knowledge to work safely on site.
If you’re interested in advancing your rigging skills, consider enrolling in our Intermediate Rigging Course to further enhance your expertise.
Obtain Your Rigging Licence
To work as a rigger, you’ll need a rigging licence. In order to obtain this, you will need to successfully demonstrate to the qualified assessor that you are fully capable of carrying out a rigger’s duties safe and soundly. You can receive your licence through rigging courses that offer an assessment at the course conclusion.
Enrol with Major Training and receive your rigger’s ticket.
Apply for Your First Job
Once you’ve completed your rigger training and received your licence, you’ll be ready to find work. Be sure to highlight your qualifications and the relevant experience when putting together your CV and cover letter.
Choose a Specialty
As the building industry continues to thrive, so do work opportunities for riggers. If you’re looking to progress your rigging career, consider honing your skills in a specialty area such as a dockside rigger, scaffolder or a steel fixer to further increase your employability.
Major Training offers training opportunities via our available rigging courses. Enrol today to kickstart your trade career today.
FAQs
What does a rigger do and where do they work in Australia?
A rigger specialises in moving, lifting, and positioning heavy loads using specialised equipment, such as wire ropes, chains, slings, shackles, hoists, and cranes. On a construction site, they might be erecting tower cranes, lifting steel beams into place, moving pre-cast concrete panels, or rigging scaffolding systems.
But rigging isn’t limited to construction. Riggers are also in demand in the mining and resources sector, in manufacturing, on ships, and in the entertainment industry, where they’re responsible for setting up and dismantling stages and rigging systems for large events. It’s a physically demanding role that combines practical skill with real technical knowledge, and it’s one of the higher-paid trades you can enter through a short training pathway.
What licences do you need to become a certified rigger in Australia?
To work legally as a rigger in Australia, you must hold a High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) with the relevant rigging class endorsement. There are three levels: basic (RB), intermediate (RI), and advanced (RA) – each covering progressively more complex rigging operations.
The basic rigging licence (CPCCLRG3001) is the entry point and covers moving plant and equipment, steel erection, and placing pre-cast concrete. Intermediate (CPCCLRG3002) adds dual crane lifts and tilt slab erection. Advanced (CPCCLRG4001) covers the most complex work, including gin poles, shear legs, and suspended loads. Many riggers also hold a dogging licence as a prerequisite before progressing to rigging.
Major Training offers all three levels through our rigging licence courses.
Do I need a dogging licence before I can become a rigger?
In most cases, yes. A dogging licence is widely regarded as the foundation for a rigging career in Australia. It covers the core skills of load slinging, lifting gear selection, and directing crane operators, which underpin everything you’ll do as a rigger.
While the licensing framework doesn’t make a dogging licence a strict legal prerequisite for basic rigging in every state, most RTOs and employers expect you to have it before progressing to rigging training. It’s also a practical advantage, since walking into a rigging course with dogging experience means you’re already comfortable with the terminology, equipment, and safety protocols.
According to Safe Work Australia, both dogging and rigging fall under the High Risk Work Licence framework and are among the most regulated roles on Australian construction sites.
How much does a rigger earn in Australia?
Rigging is one of the better-paid trade roles in the construction industry, and pay increases significantly with your licence level and experience. Entry-level riggers with a basic licence typically earn between $85,000 and $100,000 per year, while experienced riggers holding intermediate or advanced licences, particularly those working in mining or on major infrastructure projects, can earn well above $130,000 annually. The national average salary for a rigger sits at around $133,000 per year, according to industry data. The combination of short training time and strong earning potential makes rigging one of the more compelling career moves available in the construction and heavy industry sectors right now.
What physical requirements are there to become a rigger in Australia?
Rigging is physically demanding work. You’ll spend your days working outdoors on construction sites, often at heights, in varying weather conditions, and in environments where you’re constantly moving, lifting, and operating in tight spaces. You need to be comfortable working at heights, have good physical fitness, and be able to handle the demands of a fast-paced, high-stakes work environment. There are no formal medical requirements to start training, but it’s worth being honest with yourself about whether the physical nature of the role suits you before you invest in your licence. You must also be at least 18 years old to apply for a High Risk Work Licence. If you’re ready to get started, check available course dates on the Major’s course schedule.
What are the career progression options for a qualified rigger in Australia?
Rigging offers a clear and well-defined career path. Starting with a basic rigging licence, you can progressively work toward intermediate and then advanced levels as your skills and on-site experience grow with each step, opening up more complex, better-paid work. Many advanced riggers move into rigging supervision roles, overseeing teams and taking responsibility for lift planning and compliance on large projects. Others branch out into crane operation, which is a natural step for those who want to stay in the lifting and heavy equipment space. Rigging is also a great foundation for broader construction management roles over time. Browse Major’s full range of high-risk licence courses to map out your pathway.
Earn Your High Risk Rigging Licence Today
Find out what’s covered in Major’s Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Rigging Licence courses.
