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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers earn a median $53,750 a year nationally. Production Occupations

U.S. median
$53,750
$25.84 per hour
Range
$39,240 – $77,530
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
416,210
across the U.S.
▲5.4%
Pay trend: The median for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the U.S. rose from $51,000 (May 2024) to $53,750 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.0%.

What welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers do

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+2.4% (about average)
Openings per year
40,300
Self-employed
4%

Employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 40,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$45,368
per year · effective tax rate 15.6%
$3,781Monthly
$1,890Twice a month
$1,745Every 2 weeks
$21.81Hourly
  • Federal income tax$4,270
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,333
  • Medicare (1.45%)$779
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$45,368

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$39,240$18.87$33,709
25th percentile$46,790$22.50$39,776
Median (50th)$53,750$25.84$45,368
75th percentile$63,010$30.29$52,809
90th percentile (top earners)$77,530$37.27$63,372

Best cities for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Baton Rouge, LA$78,170$61,864$68,1473,690
2Virginia Beach, VA$62,670$49,746$50,7923,740
3Kansas City, MO$57,370$46,518$50,2662,710
4Seattle, WA$66,240$55,404$49,8543,230
5Milwaukee, WI$59,390$48,068$49,5873,400
6Houston, TX$57,940$48,735$49,41215,850
7Tulsa, OK$53,550$43,343$48,5834,520
8Minneapolis, MN$61,880$49,216$46,9524,600
9Charlotte, NC$56,070$45,504$46,7433,370
10Philadelphia, PA$58,380$47,296$46,1184,630
11Pittsburgh, PA$53,610$43,610$46,0653,600
12Cincinnati, OH$51,990$43,307$45,4093,160
13Portland, OR$62,050$47,437$44,9983,300
14Phoenix, AZ$56,540$46,405$44,9165,440
15San Diego, CA$62,560$49,831$44,5372,940
16St. Louis, MO$51,640$42,183$44,3622,820
17Cleveland, OH$49,040$41,017$43,6713,510
18Indianapolis, IN$51,070$41,738$43,6152,790
19New York, NY$61,680$49,006$43,5375,780
20Nashville, TN$49,460$41,921$43,5152,590
21San Antonio, TX$48,220$40,925$43,2082,510
22Providence, RI$52,800$43,242$42,4882,490
23Dallas, TX$51,630$43,665$42,35610,620
24Tampa, FL$49,930$42,299$41,9262,520
25Detroit, MI$51,810$41,858$41,7344,580

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Alaska $80,840+7.6%$65,701 $49,660 – $109,940790
Hawaii $79,000+2.6%$59,933 $50,000 – $100,220520
Connecticut $64,880+0.6%$52,316 $43,590 – $87,9801,790
Wyoming $63,820−3.4%$53,459 $47,220 – $89,6101,850
Washington $63,020+2.1%$52,817 $47,980 – $86,2507,720
Massachusetts $62,570+1.4%$49,546 $47,720 – $83,4302,830
New Hampshire $62,360+8.1%$52,286 $47,540 – $80,2901,110
Louisiana $62,250+4.0%$50,717 $42,810 – $81,75013,690
Maine $62,220+6.7%$49,156 $47,230 – $76,2201,690
North Dakota $62,000+2.9%$51,997 $46,660 – $83,2902,590
Nevada $61,520+3.6%$51,611 $44,530 – $95,0501,600
Vermont $60,890+5.9%$49,499 $45,650 – $74,870340
Maryland $60,310+6.9%$48,138 $40,590 – $95,2802,850
Minnesota $60,280+2.6%$48,039 $45,690 – $75,7109,270
District of Columbia $60,180+2.5%$48,069 $48,400 – $75,580280
New Mexico $59,840+14.1%$48,615 $36,860 – $92,7602,390
Oregon $59,450+1.5%$45,576 $46,070 – $79,2305,240
New Jersey $59,440−0.3%$48,204 $43,290 – $81,7603,730
Virginia $59,180+3.2%$47,142 $42,520 – $79,63010,100
New York $59,140+3.3%$47,102 $43,840 – $87,1108,310
Colorado $58,590+2.4%$47,388 $44,100 – $79,7004,970
Wisconsin $58,410+5.0%$47,323 $47,060 – $70,72015,320
Utah $58,380+4.2%$47,427 $43,850 – $79,5204,440
California $58,060+0.2%$46,543 $44,520 – $81,94026,060
Delaware $57,270+1.3%$45,695 $45,550 – $75,560600
Montana $55,610+8.4%$45,006 $43,720 – $81,4701,530
Arizona $55,600+3.4%$45,673 $39,970 – $81,2807,270
Iowa $55,090+11.4%$45,003 $45,590 – $65,2509,270
Texas $53,340+7.0%$45,039 $38,380 – $80,24052,000
Pennsylvania $52,900+4.0%$43,061 $40,510 – $74,87017,850
Nebraska $52,220+3.3%$42,642 $43,850 – $66,9004,200
Missouri $51,950+5.0%$42,418 $38,200 – $78,15010,600
Kentucky $51,470+4.5%$41,852 $39,300 – $69,0106,630
Illinois $51,320+3.2%$41,020 $38,890 – $76,73016,260
Mississippi $51,100+3.3%$41,927 $36,800 – $64,4406,460
Florida $50,640+2.4%$42,869 $39,200 – $70,39016,420
North Carolina $50,590+1.5%$41,319 $38,540 – $71,24011,750
Rhode Island $50,580−11.3%$41,541 $35,560 – $81,0002,300
Idaho $50,530+2.7%$41,211 $40,370 – $70,7903,300
Ohio $50,340+1.9%$42,026 $38,990 – $70,51020,330
Michigan $49,990+2.2%$40,473 $39,090 – $70,20013,330
South Carolina $49,980+1.8%$40,497 $38,720 – $64,5107,380
Indiana $49,730+2.6%$40,701 $38,410 – $74,88013,280
Oklahoma $49,720+2.5%$40,438 $37,860 – $70,6409,960
South Dakota $49,440+2.3%$41,905 $38,100 – $63,3803,250
Kansas $49,410+0.8%$39,924 $37,790 – $66,6806,370
West Virginia $48,810+3.9%$39,931 $36,700 – $73,7802,100
Alabama $48,490+2.8%$38,982 $36,710 – $66,82012,450
Georgia $48,430+0.9%$39,203 $38,030 – $65,16013,130
Tennessee $48,040+1.6%$40,780 $37,840 – $64,20012,510
Arkansas $47,970+1.8%$39,066 $37,380 – $62,8306,150

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920High school diploma or equivalent-8.9%
Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender$54,430High school diploma or equivalent-2.9%
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800High school diploma or equivalent-13.2%
Pourers and Casters, Metal$51,810High school diploma or equivalent-5.0%
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620High school diploma or equivalent-11.3%
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,140High school diploma or equivalent-8.3%
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060High school diploma or equivalent-6.8%
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic$58,000High school diploma or equivalent-22.8%
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,080High school diploma or equivalent-9.5%
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,030High school diploma or equivalent-17.2%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make?

The national median salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,240 and the top 10% earn over $77,530. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers the most?

Alaska has the highest median pay at $80,840. After taxes and local prices, Baton Rouge, LA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are there in the U.S.?

About 416,210 people work as welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers nationwide.

All 31 cities