Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in the U.S.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the U.S. earn a median of $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 416,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,530 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $56,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,240 | $18.87 |
| 25th percentile | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Median | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| 75th percentile | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,530 | $37.28 |
| Average (mean) | $56,760 | $27.29 |
Half of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,479.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,239.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,067.31 |
| Weekly | $1,033.65 |
| Hourly | $25.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | 790 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | 520 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $63,020 | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | 13,690 |
| Maine | $62,220 | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $61,520 | 1,600 |
| Vermont | $60,890 | 340 |
| Maryland | $60,310 | 2,850 |
| Minnesota | $60,280 | 9,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,180 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | 2,390 |
| Oregon | $59,450 | 5,240 |
| New Jersey | $59,440 | 3,730 |
| Virginia | $59,180 | 10,100 |
| New York | $59,140 | 8,310 |
| Colorado | $58,590 | 4,970 |
| Wisconsin | $58,410 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $58,380 | 4,440 |
| California | $58,060 | 26,060 |
| Delaware | $57,270 | 600 |
| Montana | $55,610 | 1,530 |
| Arizona | $55,600 | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $55,090 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $53,340 | 52,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 | 17,850 |
| Nebraska | $52,220 | 4,200 |
| Missouri | $51,950 | 10,600 |
| Kentucky | $51,470 | 6,630 |
| Illinois | $51,320 | 16,260 |
| Mississippi | $51,100 | 6,460 |
| Florida | $50,640 | 16,420 |
| North Carolina | $50,590 | 11,750 |
| Rhode Island | $50,580 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $50,530 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $50,340 | 20,330 |
| Michigan | $49,990 | 13,330 |
| South Carolina | $49,980 | 7,380 |
| Indiana | $49,730 | 13,280 |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 | 9,960 |
| South Dakota | $49,440 | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $49,410 | 6,370 |
| West Virginia | $48,810 | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $48,490 | 12,450 |
| Georgia | $48,430 | 13,130 |
| Tennessee | $48,040 | 12,510 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | 6,150 |
| Virgin Islands | $46,270 | 60 |
| Guam | $40,600 | 360 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,220 | 1,680 |
Best-paying metro areas for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lima, OH | $85,790 | 470 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,120 | 430 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $80,210 | 70 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $78,170 | 3,690 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $75,040 | 670 |
| Anchorage, AK | $74,000 | 250 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $72,920 | 970 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $71,720 | 740 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $67,280 | 40 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $66,420 | 1,060 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $66,240 | 3,230 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $66,060 | 610 |
| Boulder, CO | $65,040 | 260 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $64,720 | 260 |
| Alexandria, LA | $64,490 | 230 |
Metro areas with the most welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 15,850 | $57,940 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 10,620 | $51,630 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9,320 | $52,650 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,850 | $56,160 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,780 | $61,680 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 5,440 | $56,540 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,240 | $49,630 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,630 | $58,380 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,600 | $61,880 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,580 | $51,810 |
| Tulsa, OK | 4,520 | $53,550 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,810 | $52,050 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 3,740 | $62,670 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 3,690 | $78,170 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 3,600 | $53,610 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the U.S. is $53,750 a year, or $25.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the U.S. earn at least $77,530 a year. The top 25% earn $63,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,240 a year, and a quarter of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $46,790 or less.
How many welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers work in the U.S.?
About 416,210 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.