Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary
The median pay for a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Huntsville, AL is $65,860/year ($31.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.07), which stretches that salary to about $70,764 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,310/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $66K get you in Huntsville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Huntsville’s Regional Price Parity (93.07). 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 Huntsville
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers pay in Huntsville tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,310/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.07 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in metros near Huntsville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $50K | $54K |
| 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, Huntsville, AL
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $26K 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 with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Huntsville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,310/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Huntsville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,160/month. At HUD’s $1,310/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Huntsville?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Huntsville compare to the national average for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
Huntsville pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.07), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make in Huntsville, AL?
The median is $65,860 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,670, and experienced aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers can clear $78,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Huntsville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,299/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,310/month, which eats 30.5% 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 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary go in Huntsville?
Huntsville has a Regional Price Parity of 93.07 (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 $70,764 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.