Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Boilermakerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Boilermakerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $97,315/year, better purchasing power than Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim's higher nominal pay of $107,600. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$107,600
#2 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood$93,130
#3 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington$91,690

Best purchasing power

#1 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood$97,315
#2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$94,743
#3 Pittsburgh$94,233

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed boilermakerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$93,130
$97,315
#2
$107,600
$94,743
#3
Pittsburgh
17% rent burden
$89,210
$94,233
#4
Baton Rouge
17% rent burden
$84,220
$92,774
#5
$91,690
$89,410
#6
New Orleans-Metairie
21% rent burden
$75,370
$81,393
#7
$80,560
$71,571
#8
Beaumont-Port Arthur
21% rent burden
$62,530
$69,439
#9
$64,980
$66,347
#10
$64,310
$65,203
#11
$45,330
$47,441

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Boilermakerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $107,600 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $89,667 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A boilermakers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Boilermakerss?

Pittsburgh has one of the lowest rent burdens for Boilermakerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,299/month, with a median salary of $89,210.

Where do Boilermakerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays the highest nominal median salary at $107,600/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for BoilermakerssView →How to become a boilermakersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →