Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary
The median pay for a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Pennsylvania is $81,680/year ($39.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $86,006 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Pennsylvania. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in Pennsylvania?
About aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 25.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,700/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $82K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
Pennsylvania pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $81,680 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,000, and experienced aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers can clear $112,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,278/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 25.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $86,006 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.