What is the best state for boilermakers?

After cost of living, Mississippi: the median of $105,910 a year buys about what $121,800 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays boilermakers the most?

Before adjusting for prices, California has the highest median, $118,150. After cost of living it ranks 3rd of 37.

What is the worst state for boilermakers after cost of living?

Maryland, where the median of $42,250 buys about what $40,250 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for boilermakers

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Mississippi is the best-paying state for boilermakers: its median of $105,910 a year buys what $121,800 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, California leads at $118,150, but its higher prices drop it to 3rd of 37. Counting prices moves 1 states ten or more places.

Boilermaker pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Mississippi$105,910 median · prices 87.0	$121,800	$105,910	87.0
2	New Mexico$101,200 median · prices 92.2	$109,750	$101,200	92.2
3	California$118,150 median · prices 110.7	$106,710	$118,150	110.7
4	Wisconsin$97,590 median · prices 94.1	$103,710	$97,590	94.1
5	Michigan$98,220 median · prices 96.2	$102,080	$98,220	96.2
6	Illinois$99,730 median · prices 100.0	$99,770	$99,730	100.0
7	Indiana$91,410 median · prices 93.3	$97,940	$91,410	93.3
8	Minnesota$96,190 median · prices 98.6	$97,540	$96,190	98.6
9	Iowa$82,470 median · prices 87.8	$93,970	$82,470	87.8
10	Idaho$88,400 median · prices 95.5	$92,570	$88,400	95.5
11	Ohio$85,550 median · prices 92.8	$92,210	$85,550	92.8
12	Pennsylvania$86,850 median · prices 97.6	$89,010	$86,850	97.6
13	Washington$95,200 median · prices 107.0	$88,960	$95,200	107.0
14	Oklahoma$77,750 median · prices 87.8	$88,510	$77,750	87.8
15	Arkansas$76,810 median · prices 86.9	$88,350	$76,810	86.9
16	Colorado$89,350 median · prices 103.1	$86,700	$89,350	103.1
17	Missouri$78,550 median · prices 90.8	$86,490	$78,550	90.8
18	Wyoming$77,900 median · prices 92.7	$84,040	$77,900	92.7
19	Louisiana$73,980 median · prices 88.2	$83,870	$73,980	88.2
20	Kentucky$74,810 median · prices 90.2	$82,980	$74,810	90.2
21	New Hampshire$85,470 median · prices 104.2	$82,050	$85,470	104.2
22	Kansas$72,170 median · prices 90.1	$80,130	$72,170	90.1
23	South Carolina$74,840 median · prices 93.7	$79,830	$74,840	93.7
24	New York$84,770 median · prices 107.9	$78,550	$84,770	107.9
25	Texas$75,750 median · prices 97.1	$78,050	$75,750	97.1
26	Connecticut$80,360 median · prices 103.6	$77,560	$80,360	103.6
27	Arizona$77,940 median · prices 100.7	$77,420	$77,940	100.7
28	New Jersey$82,410 median · prices 108.8	$75,740	$82,410	108.8
29	Alabama$63,570 median · prices 88.8	$71,570	$63,570	88.8
30	West Virginia$63,850 median · prices 89.5	$71,340	$63,850	89.5
31	Florida$69,790 median · prices 103.4	$67,490	$69,790	103.4
32	Virginia$67,540 median · prices 101.1	$66,800	$67,540	101.1
33	Georgia$64,200 median · prices 96.3	$66,670	$64,200	96.3
34	Nevada$61,430 median · prices 100.0	$61,440	$61,430	100.0
35	Tennessee$51,810 median · prices 91.9	$56,390	$51,810	91.9
36	North Carolina$49,720 median · prices 94.3	$52,710	$49,720	94.3
37	Maryland$42,250 median · prices 105.0	$40,250	$42,250	105.0

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full boilermaker pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for boilermakers.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for boilermakers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2011) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed boilermakers. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for boilermakers?: After cost of living, Mississippi: the median of $105,910 a year buys about what $121,800 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays boilermakers the most?: Before adjusting for prices, California has the highest median, $118,150. After cost of living it ranks 3rd of 37.
What is the worst state for boilermakers after cost of living?: Maryland, where the median of $42,250 buys about what $40,250 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.