Boilermakers Salary
In Missouri, boilermakers earn $78,550 at the median, or about $37.76 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $88,288 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Missouri?
About boilermakers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Boilermakers pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (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, Missouri
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Boilermakers salary by metro in Missouri
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $95K | +20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track boilermakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,967/month. At HUD’s $1,097/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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Missouri pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Missouri?
The median is $78,550 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,450, and experienced boilermakers can clear $124,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,057/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 21.7% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $88,288 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.