Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary
The median pay for a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in Wichita, KS is $59,850/year ($28.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.95), which stretches that salary to about $67,285 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,099/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $60K get you in Wichita?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wichita’s Regional Price Parity (88.95). 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 Wichita
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers pay in Wichita tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,099/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.95 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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 Wichita, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $59K | $62K |
| Oklahoma City | $49K | $54K |
| Tulsa | $48K | $54K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wichita, KS
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $25K 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 Wichita numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wichita?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,099/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 Wichita?
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 $3,158/month. At HUD’s $1,099/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Wichita?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Wichita compare to the national average for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
Wichita pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make in Wichita, KS?
The median is $59,850 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,630, and experienced aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers can clear $77,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wichita?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,948/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,099/month, which eats 27.8% 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 Wichita?
Wichita has a Regional Price Parity of 88.95 (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 $67,285 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.