Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The median pay for a structural metal fabricators and fitters in Arkansas is $41,260/year ($19.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $47,079 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 36.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Arkansas?
About structural metal fabricators and fitters
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in Arkansas runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 36.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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 structural metal fabricators and fitterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $48K | +16% | 50 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $43K | +5% | 180 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural metal fabricators and fitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 36.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for structural metal fabricators and fitters in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural metal fabricators and fitters typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,934/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is structural metal fabricators and fitter a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $41K here vs. $51K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for structural metal fabricators and fitters?
Arkansas pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make in Arkansas?
The median is $41,260 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,230, and experienced structural metal fabricators and fitters can clear $56,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,813/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 36.3% 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 structural metal fabricators and fitters salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 structural metal fabricators and fitters salary is worth about $47,079 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do structural metal fabricators and fitters 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.