Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary
The median pay for a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Birmingham, AL is $49,900/year ($23.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.64), which stretches that salary to about $54,452 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,266/month, about 37.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Birmingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Birmingham’s Regional Price Parity (91.64). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
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What this looks like in Birmingham
Pay for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Birmingham runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $65K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,266/month, which is 38.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in metros near Birmingham, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $66K | $71K |
| Mobile | $57K | $64K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $78K | $68K |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $59K | $59K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Birmingham, AL
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $110K | +69% | 4,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $82K | +25% | 740 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +20% | 500 |
| Texas | $77K | +17% | 3,010 |
| Arizona | $74K | +13% | 1,210 |
| Georgia | $73K | +11% | 2,950 |
| Colorado | $71K | +8% | 160 |
| Tennessee | $66K | +2% | 130 |
| Florida | $65K | -1% | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -1% | 220 |
| California | $64K | -3% | 2,930 |
| Kansas | $60K | -8% | 9,710 |
| Alabama | $59K | -10% | 950 |
| Missouri | $59K | -10% | 460 |
| Oregon | $58K | -11% | 560 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -21% | 670 |
| Utah | $51K | -22% | 550 |
| Idaho | $50K | -23% | 40 |
| New York | $50K | -24% | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -25% | 400 |
| Michigan | $47K | -28% | 360 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -29% | 780 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Birmingham numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Birmingham?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 38.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,266/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 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Birmingham?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,804/month. At HUD’s $1,266/month FMR, rent would take 70% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler a high-paying job in Birmingham?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $50K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Birmingham compare to the national average for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
Birmingham pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make in Birmingham, AL?
The median is $49,900 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,060, and experienced aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers can clear $79,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Birmingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,317/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,266/month, which eats 38.2% 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 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary go in Birmingham?
Birmingham has a Regional Price Parity of 91.64 (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 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary is worth about $54,452 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers 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.