Across U.S. metros, riggers typically earn $8,775 more a year than auto body repairers (17%). In the 69 metros where BLS publishes both, auto body repairers earn more in 17 and riggers in 52.
| Auto Body Repairer | Rigger | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical metro median pay | $51,680 | $60,455 |
| Lowest metro median | $30,260 | $36,880 |
| Highest metro median | $81,790 | $169,480 |
| Job growth 2025–35 (U.S.) | +3.7% | +3.9% |
| Openings per year (U.S.) | 12,600 | 1,700 |
| Self-employed | 8% | — |
| Typical education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Typical training | Long-term on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Injury rate per 10k workers (U.S.) | 60 | 79 |
| Metros with pay data | 363 | 70 |
On safety, riggers report more injuries that cause missed work (79 vs. 60 per 10,000 full-time workers, national 2023–24).
Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025 (typical = median across metros). Growth, openings, education, training: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Injuries: BLS SOII 2023–24.
Where auto body repairers out-earn riggers the most Our calculation
Gap in median yearly pay, same metro.
Where riggers out-earn auto body repairers the most
Gap in median yearly pay, same metro.
What each trade does
Auto Body Repairer
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Rigger
Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.
Compare one trade across two cities →