Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators Salary
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators in Fort Wayne, IN make a median of $43,490 a year, or about $20.91 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $46,981 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $43K actually covers in Fort Wayne, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Wayne’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About fiberglass laminators and fabricators
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What this looks like in Fort Wayne
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators pay in Fort Wayne tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 37.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fiberglass laminators and fabricators in metros near Fort Wayne, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen | $48K | $53K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $46K | $44K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $44K | $46K |
| Cincinnati | $49K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Wayne, IN
Entry-level fiberglass laminators and fabricators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58K | +25% | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $56K | +19% | 200 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | +17% | 270 |
| New Jersey | $54K | +15% | 680 |
| Idaho | $53K | +13% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $52K | +11% | 590 |
| Maine | $51K | +8% | 320 |
| Iowa | $50K | +8% | 40 |
| Oregon | $50K | +6% | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $49K | +5% | 170 |
| Ohio | $49K | +5% | 490 |
| South Dakota | $48K | +3% | 70 |
| California | $48K | +2% | 850 |
| Nevada | $48K | +2% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +1% | 90 |
| New York | $47K | +1% | 120 |
| Florida | $47K | +1% | 2,870 |
| Missouri | $47K | -1% | 240 |
| Indiana | $46K | -2% | 2,010 |
| South Carolina | $45K | -3% | 480 |
| Utah | $45K | -5% | 50 |
| Texas | $44K | -5% | 1,050 |
| Wisconsin | $44K | -6% | 250 |
| Michigan | $44K | -6% | 520 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -6% | 850 |
| Colorado | $43K | -9% | 80 |
| Mississippi | $42K | -10% | 180 |
| Kansas | $40K | -14% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -15% | 220 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -16% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -16% | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -16% | 120 |
| Virginia | $39K | -17% | 160 |
| Alabama | $38K | -18% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $37K | -20% | N/A |
| Georgia | $36K | -24% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 36 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fiberglass laminators and fabricators salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Fort Wayne numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a fiberglass laminators and fabricator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fort Wayne?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 37.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fiberglass laminators and fabricators in Fort Wayne?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fiberglass laminators and fabricators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,650/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fiberglass laminators and fabricator a high-paying job in Fort Wayne?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Fort Wayne compare to the national average for fiberglass laminators and fabricators?
Fort Wayne pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fiberglass laminators and fabricators make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median is $43,490 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,500, and experienced fiberglass laminators and fabricators can clear $53,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Fort Wayne?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,971/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 37.5% 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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators salary go in Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators salary is worth about $46,981 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fiberglass laminators and fabricators 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.