Boilermakers Salary
In Pennsylvania, boilermakers earn $86,850 at the median, or about $41.75 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $91,450 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Pennsylvania?
About boilermakers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for boilermakers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Pennsylvania offers a genuinely strong financial position for boilermakerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level boilermakers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Boilermakers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $91K | +5% | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $87K | +0% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track boilermakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a boilermaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for boilermakers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new boilermakers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,623/month. At HUD’s $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $87K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for boilermakers?
Pennsylvania pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do boilermakers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $86,850 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,380, and experienced boilermakers can clear $104,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,568/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $91,450 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.