Salary comparison
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Boston vs Fairbanks
Boston, MA pays about 0.1% more for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters on paper — $96,760 vs $96,670. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Boston comes out ahead by $90 a year in real buying power.
Boston, MA
$96,760
$62,640
$117,900
$46.52
100
$96,760/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Fairbanks, AK
$96,670
$74,510
$105,380
$46.48
100
$96,670/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $90 a year (0.1%) in favor of Boston. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Boston runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Fairbanks sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Boston is the better deal by $90 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Fairbanks to Boston for this role, the raise needs to beat 0.1% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more, Boston or Fairbanks?
Boston pays $96,760 on median — about 0.1% more than Fairbanks ($96,670). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Boston. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Boston gives you roughly$96,760 of real buying power versus $96,670 in the other city.