Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary
The median pay for a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Tucson, AZ is $73,930/year ($35.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.9), that's roughly $76,295 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,402/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $74K get you in Tucson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tucson’s Regional Price Parity (96.9). 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 Tucson
Tucson sits well above the national pay line for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,402/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.9) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in metros near Tucson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $80K | $77K |
| 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, Tucson, AZ
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $32K 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 Tucson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tucson?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,402/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 Tucson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,521/month. At HUD’s $1,402/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Tucson?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $74K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Tucson compare to the national average for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
Tucson pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make in Tucson, AZ?
The median is $73,930 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,690, and experienced aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers can clear $90,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Tucson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,879/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,402/month, which eats 28.7% 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 Tucson?
Tucson has a Regional Price Parity of 96.9 (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 $76,295 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.