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What does a Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Structural Iron and Steel Workers earning $70,130 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,394 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,720 | $49,803 | +$4,083 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $56,830 | $61,906 | +$5,076 |
| Median (P50) | $70,130 | $76,394 | +$6,264 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $80,770 | $87,984 | +$7,214 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,840 | $107,668 | +$8,828 |
A Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Indiana earns $70,130 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $76,394 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Structural Iron and Steel Workers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Indiana's RPP, the $70,130 median salary translates to $76,394 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Structural Iron and Steel Workers.
Indiana sits at #18 of 50 states for Structural Iron and Steel Workers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #18 out of 50 states for Structural Iron and Steel Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Structural Iron and Steel Workers take-home pay in Indiana after taxes →
A Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Indiana earns a median salary of $70,130 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $76,394 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Indiana: $70,130 x (100 / 91.8) = $76,394. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Indiana enjoys 8.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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