Boilermakers Salary
In Baton Rouge, LA, boilermakers earn $74,730 at the median, or about $35.93 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $82,320 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,204/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). 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 boilermakers
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What this looks like in Baton Rouge
Boilermakers pay in Baton Rouge tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,204/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for boilermakers in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $77K | $83K |
| Lafayette | $71K | $81K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $77K | $78K |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $73K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Boilermakers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Boilermakers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118K | +55% | 720 |
| Mississippi | $106K | +39% | 280 |
| New Mexico | $101K | +32% | 300 |
| Illinois | $100K | +31% | 110 |
| Michigan | $98K | +29% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $98K | +28% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $96K | +26% | 140 |
| Washington | $95K | +25% | 190 |
| Indiana | $91K | +20% | 170 |
| Colorado | $89K | +17% | 40 |
| Idaho | $88K | +16% | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $87K | +14% | 260 |
| Ohio | $86K | +12% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $85K | +12% | 60 |
| New York | $85K | +11% | 410 |
| Iowa | $82K | +8% | 50 |
| New Jersey | $82K | +8% | 280 |
| Connecticut | $80K | +5% | 50 |
| Missouri | $79K | +3% | 100 |
| Arizona | $78K | +2% | 170 |
| Wyoming | $78K | +2% | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $78K | +2% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $77K | +1% | 50 |
| Texas | $76K | -1% | 2,340 |
| South Carolina | $75K | -2% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $75K | -2% | 150 |
| Louisiana | $74K | -3% | 1,220 |
| Kansas | $72K | -6% | 70 |
| Florida | $70K | -9% | 400 |
| Virginia | $68K | -12% | 150 |
| Georgia | $64K | -16% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $64K | -16% | 30 |
| Alabama | $64K | -17% | 180 |
| Nevada | $61K | -20% | 70 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -32% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -35% | 150 |
| Maryland | $42K | -45% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track boilermakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baton Rouge numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,781/month. At HUD’s $1,204/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Baton Rouge?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Baton Rouge pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $74,730 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,020, and experienced boilermakers can clear $76,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,864/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 24.8% 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 Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (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 $82,320 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.