Boilermakers Salary
In Illinois, boilermakers earn $99,730 at the median, or about $47.95 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $106,265 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Illinois?
About boilermakers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for boilermakers, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Illinois offers a genuinely strong financial position for boilermakerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Boilermakers salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $110K | +10% | 90 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,021/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is boilermaker a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $100K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Illinois pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Illinois?
The median is $99,730 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,690, and experienced boilermakers can clear $117,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,134/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $106,265 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.