Boilermakers Salary
In Iowa, boilermakers earn $82,470 at the median, or about $39.65 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $92,809 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in Iowa?
About boilermakers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Boilermakers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track boilermakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,842/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is boilermaker a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Iowa pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Iowa?
The median is $82,470 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,030, and experienced boilermakers can clear $88,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,177/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.6% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $92,809 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.