Boilermakers Salary
In North Carolina, boilermakers earn $49,720 at the median, or about $23.9 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $53,659 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 37.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $50K get you in North Carolina?
About boilermakers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for boilermakers in North Carolina runs about 35% below the U.S. median of $76K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 38.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for boilermakerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track boilermakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 38.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,454/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 35% below the national median — $50K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for boilermakers?
North Carolina pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in North Carolina?
The median is $49,720 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,900, and experienced boilermakers can clear $79,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,313/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 38.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a boilermakers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $53,659 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.