Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Riggers:
45.5%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forRiggers
$62,640 median salary•1,700 annual openings•SOC Code: 49-9096.00
Riggers are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Rigging is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing how the work gets done, even if it is not replacing riggers outright. Smart sensors, computer vision systems, and automated load calculators are taking over a lot of the monitoring and calculation tasks that riggers once handled manually, which means the job is shifting toward supervising technology rather than doing everything by hand.
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Rigging is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing how the work gets done, even if it is not replacing riggers outright. Smart sensors, computer vision systems, and automated load calculators are taking over a lot of the monitoring and calculation tasks that riggers once handled manually, which means the job is shifting toward supervising technology rather than doing everything by hand.
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Riggers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Riggers jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly helping riggers rather than replacing them. The lifting-and-rigging industry says AI is being deployed into safety work systems, inspection workflows, and overhead crane systems — used to improve safety, consistency, and decision making rather than replacing people outright, according to a 2026 industry outlook from Mazzella Companies [1]. Computer-vision systems now check that workers wear proper PPE and flag people or obstacles inside a crane's swing zone, and similar tools are moving into overhead cranes.
On the equipment side, Robotics & Automation News reports [2] that truck-mounted loader cranes increasingly use integrated systems tracking boom location, load conditions, and stability in real time — shifting the operator from manual control to supervising the lift. For riggers specifically, that means smarter load-weight calculators, sensor-driven rigging checks, and predictive inspection for slings and wire rope — but the hands-on tasks (choosing gear, dressing surfaces, anchoring, dismantling) still require humans. CareerExplorer notes [3] that physical awareness, split-second judgment, and jobsite communication remain irreplaceable.
How fast is AI adoption growing for Riggers?
Adoption will likely be steady but slow. Construction is famously cautious: an ASCE-reported Bluebeam survey [4] found only 27% of architecture, engineering, and construction respondents currently use AI, though 94% of those adopters plan to expand usage in 2026. Jobsites are unpredictable and safety-regulated, so trainers stress that operators must understand how assistance systems work, what data they rely on, and their limitations, and know how to override automated inputs and spot false alerts, per Crane and Hoist Canada [5].
What will speed adoption is labor scarcity: the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation's 2025 workforce report [6] highlights emerging challenges related to an aging workforce and a limited young talent pipeline, pushing employers toward tech that boosts each rigger's output. The good news for you: skills like mechanical intuition, teamwork, and safe judgment are exactly what AI can't do — so learning the trade plus getting comfortable with sensors, telematics, and remote controls is a strong bet for a long career.
Sources
Will AI replace Riggers?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Rigging earns a 45.5% AI Resilience Score, which puts it in a real zone of change. AI is already moving into the trade: computer-vision tools flag PPE violations and obstacles in crane swing zones, and sensor systems track boom position and load stability in real time, shifting operators toward a supervisory role [2]. Smart load calculators and predictive inspection tools for slings and wire rope are also arriving on jobsites [1].
What stays human is the core of the work. Choosing the right gear, dressing surfaces, anchoring, and dismantling all require physical awareness and split-second judgment that AI cannot replicate [3]. Jobsites are unpredictable, and trainers emphasize that riggers must understand how assistance systems work, recognize their limits, and know when to override them [5].
The economic picture is more cautious. Wages and career flexibility score on the lower end, so this is not a field where you can coast. The good news is that labor shortages are pushing employers to invest in tech that makes each rigger more productive, not fewer riggers overall. Learning the trade alongside sensors and telematics is your strongest move for staying relevant.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Riggers
These articles highlight the evolving role of AI in rigging careers, emphasizing both opportunities and challenges. For instance, AI-driven systems enhance safety through better load stability, as seen in "How AI is Revolutionizing The Future of Cranes & Heavy." Additionally, the discussion around AI not replacing riggers but transforming lift planning in "Will AI replace riggers?" offers a hopeful perspective. Students should embrace these advancements, focusing on developing skills in tech integration and safety optimization, ensuring they remain vital in an AI-enhanced industry.
Will AI Replace Rigger? 68% Risk Score
willaireplacehumans.com • 9/20/2026
How will autonomous cranes affect rigging work? They'll shrink crews on repetitive lifts — automated load paths and zone controls need less hands-on guidance — ...
How AI is Revolutionizing The Future of Cranes & Heavy ...
www.linkedin.com • 9/20/2026
Smart rigging systems with AI-driven tension monitoring will further enhance load stability, ensuring the safest lifts possible.
Lifting Smarter With AI - Crane And Hoist Canada
www.craneandhoistcanada.com • 9/20/2026
Jan 8, 2026 — AI-powered systems now assist with predictive maintenance, load path optimization, operator alerts, and remote operation, but experts stress ...
Will AI replace riggers?
www.careerexplorer.com • 9/20/2026
Sep 9, 2026 — AI won't replace riggers, but it's changing how lift plans get designed and verified. Software now assists with load calculations, rigging ... Read more
Poll-rigging Bots and AI Robocalls: The Dark Tech Running Israel's Election Campaigns
www.haaretz.com • 8/20/2026
Israel's upcoming election is being shaped by a surge in unregulated digital campaign tools, including bots rigging online polls, AI-powered...
More Career Info
Career: Riggers
They safely set up and move heavy equipment using ropes, pulleys, and cranes at construction sites or during events.
Parent Careers
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$62,640
Jobs (2025)
22,500
Growth (2025-35)
+3.9%
Annual Openings
1,700
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, or around obstacles, using multi-point suspension techniques.
2
Install ground rigging for yarding lines, attaching chokers to logs and to the lines.
3
Control movement of heavy equipment through narrow openings or confined spaces, using chainfalls, gin poles, gallows frames, and other equipment.
4
Fabricate, set up, and repair rigging, supporting structures, hoists, and pulling gear, using hand and power tools.
5
Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools.
6
Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials, such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.
7
Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
