Riggers Salary
Riggers in Tennessee make a median of $47,180 a year, or about $22.68 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $52,551 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Tennessee?
About riggers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for riggers in Tennessee runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 36.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for riggerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level riggers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Riggers salary by metro in Tennessee
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $47K | +0% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $38K | -18% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track riggers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rigger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 36.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for riggers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new riggers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $47K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for riggers?
Tennessee pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do riggers make in Tennessee?
The median is $47,180 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,590, and experienced riggers can clear $57,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,329/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 36.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a riggers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $52,551 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.