Average income for a rigging supervisor on offshore platforms?

At-a-Glance — Offshore Rigging Supervisor Pay

Typical mid-career offshore rigging supervisors command around $750/day (˜$62.50/hour for a 12-hour shift), which annualizes to roughly $137,500 on a 28/28 rotation before bonuses and allowances.

Snapshot (Mid-Career)	Typical Value
Median day rate	$750/day
Hourly equivalent (12-hr shift)	$62.50/hour
Annualized on 28/28 rotation	$137,500/year

I. Pay Breakdown

Figures shown are for the specific role: offshore rigging supervisor on fixed or floating platforms. Presented as hourly, day rate, and 28/28 annualized equivalents. Rounding: hourly to nearest $2.50; day rate to nearest $10; annualized to nearest $2,500.

Experience	Percentile	Hourly	Day Rate	Annualized (28/28)
Entry (newly promoted supervisor)	25th	$42.50	$520	$95,000
Entry	50th (median)	$50.00	$610	$110,000
Entry	75th	$57.50	$700	$127,500
Mid-Career (5–10 yrs)	25th	$55.00	$650	$117,500
Mid-Career	50th (median)	$62.50	$750	$137,500
Mid-Career	75th	$72.50	$860	$157,500
Senior (10+ yrs, complex lifts)	25th	$65.00	$780	$142,500
Senior	50th (median)	$75.00	$900	$165,000
Senior	75th	$87.50	$1,060	$192,500

Calculation notes

I.1 Annualization uses a 1:1 rotation (e.g., 28/28), approximating 182 paid offshore days per year: $ \text{Annualized} \approx \text{Day Rate} \times 182 $.
I.2 Hourly equivalents assume 12-hour shifts: $ \text{Hourly} \approx \frac{\text{Day Rate}}{12} $.
I.3 Actual compensation may include offshore allowances, per-diem, travel pay, night-shift uplift, and performance or retention bonuses, which can move realized earnings above the tabled values.

II. How Pay Changes

II.1 Experience: Demonstrated leadership on multi-crane or critical lifts, clean incident record, and successful campaigns on harsh-environment platforms support progression from the 50th to 75th percentile within each band.
II.2 Training/certifications: OPITO Rigger Competence (Stage 3/4), LEEA lifting qualifications, LOLER Appointed Person (where applicable), BOSIET/FOET with HUET, OEUK/OGUK medical, H2S, and documented toolbox talk/JSA leadership typically command higher day rates.
II.3 Added responsibilities: Acting as Lift Plan Author/Reviewer, overseeing simultaneous operations (SIMOPS), supervising contract rigging crews across shifts, or managing heavy/complex lifts increases rates; emergency response team participation and permit-to-work issuers also uplift pay.
II.4 Contract vs. staff: Day-rate contractors generally earn more per worked day; staff roles may include lower base day rates but add paid leave, benefits, and steady income during off-rotation.
II.5 Overtime and premiums: Beyond 12 hours, some contracts pay overtime multipliers; night shifts and short-notice mobilizations can carry premiums.

III. Market Drivers Affecting Pay for THIS Role

III.1 Offshore activity levels: Higher global offshore project load and platform maintenance backlogs increase demand for competent rigging supervisors, lifting day rates from the 50th toward the 75th percentile.
III.2 Regional hotspots: Active basins such as the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Middle East, Brazil, and West Africa often pay a premium, particularly on complex assets or during peak turnaround seasons.
III.3 Skill scarcity: Supervisors with proven records on critical lifts, subsea handling, and SIMOPS are in short supply; this scarcity supports upper-quartile pricing.
III.4 Safety performance: Strong safety KPIs and incident-free campaigns materially influence renewals and rate increases for this role.
III.5 Bonus practices: Offshore allowances, performance bonuses tied to lift execution and schedule adherence, and retention bonuses on long campaigns can add a meaningful percentage to total income.
III.6 Rotation and contract terms: Tighter rotations (e.g., 21/21) or extended hitches can raise effective earnings; standby and travel-day pay policies also affect realized totals.

IV. Entry Pathways

IV.1 Progression from offshore rigger/lead rigger after completing OPITO Rigger 3/4 competence and demonstrating JSA/toolbox leadership.
IV.2 Cross-over from deck foreman or lifting focal point roles upon gaining lift planning and crew supervision experience.
IV.3 Trade or military rigging backgrounds with offshore survival (BOSIET/FOET with HUET), OEUK/OGUK medical, and H2S, followed by LEEA/LOLER qualifications.
IV.4 Demonstrated competency in lift planning, risk assessments, and SIMOPS coordination, supported by verifiable logbooks and references from offshore campaigns.

Note: Figures represent offshore platform work only and exclude onshore roles. Currency in USD; local market conditions and contract terms will influence realized earnings.