Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The median pay for a structural metal fabricators and fitters in Baton Rouge, LA is $58,410/year ($28.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $64,342 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,204/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $58K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). 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 structural metal fabricators and fitters
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What this looks like in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge sits well above the national pay line for structural metal fabricators and fitters, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,204/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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 structural metal fabricators and fitters in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $46K | $55K |
| Lafayette | $44K | $50K |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $56K | $60K |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $30K | $32K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $65K | +26% | 770 |
| Alaska | $63K | +24% | 70 |
| Oregon | $62K | +21% | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +21% | 690 |
| Washington | $62K | +20% | 1,050 |
| Indiana | $60K | +17% | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $59K | +14% | 500 |
| Idaho | $58K | +13% | 320 |
| California | $58K | +12% | 3,420 |
| Wisconsin | $56K | +10% | 1,810 |
| Minnesota | $56K | +10% | 640 |
| New Jersey | $56K | +8% | 1,540 |
| Illinois | $55K | +8% | 1,910 |
| Kentucky | $55K | +8% | 450 |
| New York | $55K | +7% | 2,040 |
| North Dakota | $54K | +6% | 140 |
| Virginia | $54K | +5% | 1,220 |
| New Hampshire | $54K | +5% | 100 |
| Missouri | $54K | +4% | 550 |
| Ohio | $52K | +2% | 1,090 |
| Alabama | $52K | +2% | 2,130 |
| Wyoming | $52K | +1% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | +1% | 1,690 |
| Iowa | $51K | +0% | 650 |
| Colorado | $51K | -0% | 330 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -1% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -2% | 2,260 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -2% | 710 |
| Maryland | $50K | -2% | 620 |
| Georgia | $50K | -3% | 560 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -4% | 2,520 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -5% | 1,070 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -5% | 580 |
| New Mexico | $49K | -5% | 240 |
| Texas | $48K | -6% | 4,440 |
| Arizona | $48K | -6% | 940 |
| Utah | $48K | -6% | 780 |
| Michigan | $48K | -7% | 1,270 |
| Kansas | $48K | -7% | 620 |
| Delaware | $47K | -9% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -9% | 1,020 |
| Florida | $47K | -9% | 2,950 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -9% | 180 |
| Hawaii | $44K | -15% | 60 |
| Mississippi | $43K | -17% | 700 |
| Arkansas | $41K | -20% | 640 |
| Nevada | $40K | -23% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track structural metal fabricators and fitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baton Rouge numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural metal fabricators and fitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural metal fabricators and fitters typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,373/month. At HUD’s $1,204/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Baton Rouge?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $58K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for structural metal fabricators and fitters?
Baton Rouge pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $58,410 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,550, and experienced structural metal fabricators and fitters can clear $75,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,923/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 30.7% 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 Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (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 $64,342 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.