Boilermakers Salary
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, boilermakers earn $109,640 at the median, or about $52.71 an hour. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $105,840 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $110K actually covers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for boilermakers, local pay runs about 43% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $38K 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 annually. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $110K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,027/month. At HUD’s $1,781/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 boilermaker a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 43% above the national median — $110K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $110K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +43%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $109,640 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,410, and experienced boilermakers can clear $117,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $110K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,674/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (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 boilermakers salary is worth about $105,840 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.