Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The median pay for a structural metal fabricators and fitters in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX is $37,010/year ($17.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $43,090 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,060/month, about 39.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by McAllen-Edinburg-Mission’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
Pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,060/month, which is 40% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in metros near McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $51K | $51K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $49K | $48K |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $53K | $58K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $49K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $16K 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
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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural metal fabricators and fitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 40% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,060/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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural metal fabricators and fitters typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,849/month. At HUD’s $1,060/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $37K here vs. $51K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does McAllen-Edinburg-Mission compare to the national average for structural metal fabricators and fitters?
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
The median is $37,010 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,810, and experienced structural metal fabricators and fitters can clear $46,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,648/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,060/month, which eats 40% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (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 $43,090 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.