Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary
The median pay for a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ is $79,850/year ($38.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $77,284 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,839/month, about 34.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $80K get you in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler sits well above the national pay line for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,839/month, which is 35.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $74K | $76K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $65K | $57K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $61K | $54K |
| Ogden | $57K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $86K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 35.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,624/month. At HUD’s $1,839/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $80K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $79,850 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,400, and experienced aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers can clear $85,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,214/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 35.3% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary is worth about $77,284 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.