Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The median pay for a structural metal fabricators and fitters in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL is $45,560/year ($21.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.14), that's roughly $46,901 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,497/month, about 45.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lakeland-Winter Haven’s Regional Price Parity (97.14). 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven
Pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in Lakeland-Winter Haven runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,497/month, which is 46.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.14) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for structural metal fabricators and fitterss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in metros near Lakeland-Winter Haven, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $30K | $30K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $48K | $42K |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $46K | $46K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $49K | $48K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $18K 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural metal fabricators and fitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 46.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,497/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 Lakeland-Winter Haven?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural metal fabricators and fitters typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,098/month. At HUD’s $1,497/month FMR, rent would take 71% 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $46K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Lakeland-Winter Haven compare to the national average for structural metal fabricators and fitters?
Lakeland-Winter Haven pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median is $45,560 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,970, and experienced structural metal fabricators and fitters can clear $52,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,220/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,497/month, which eats 46.5% 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 structural metal fabricators and fitters salary go in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Lakeland-Winter Haven has a Regional Price Parity of 97.14 (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 $46,901 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.