Riggers Salary
Riggers in Illinois make a median of $81,860 a year, or about $39.36 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $87,224 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in Illinois?
About riggers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for riggers, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level riggers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Riggers salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $82K | +0% | 100 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rigger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for riggers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new riggers typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,655/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rigger a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $82K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for riggers?
Illinois pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do riggers make in Illinois?
The median is $81,860 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,910, and experienced riggers can clear $85,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,160/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 27.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a riggers salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median riggers salary is worth about $87,224 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do riggers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.