Boilermakers Salary
In Alabama, boilermakers earn $63,570 at the median, or about $30.56 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $71,944 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 26% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Alabama?
About boilermakers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for boilermakers in Alabama runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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, Alabama
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Boilermakers salary by metro in Alabama
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $64K | +1% | 30 |
| Birmingham | $64K | +1% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track boilermakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 26% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,897/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is boilermaker a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $64K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Alabama pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Alabama?
The median is $63,570 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,290, and experienced boilermakers can clear $79,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,175/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 26% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a boilermakers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 boilermakers salary is worth about $71,944 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do boilermakers 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.