Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The median pay for a structural metal fabricators and fitters in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $48,530/year ($23.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $54,842 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Structural metal fabricators and fitters pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,095/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $51K | $52K |
| Winston-Salem | $49K | $53K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $47K | $51K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $51K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $27K 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural metal fabricators and fitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/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 structural metal fabricators and fitters in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural metal fabricators and fitters typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,965/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for structural metal fabricators and fitters?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $48,530 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,750, and experienced structural metal fabricators and fitters can clear $60,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,237/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 33.8% 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 structural metal fabricators and fitters salary go in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (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 $54,842 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.