Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$53,750
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$25.84
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$77,530
entry level starts ~$39,240
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 416,000 employed

How much do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers make?

The median pay for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the United States is $53,750 per year — about $25.84 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $39,240, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $77,530.

That is $7,640 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary range by percentile

Half of all Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers earn between $46,790 and $63,010 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$39,240$18.87
25th percentile (early career)$46,790$22.50
50th percentile (median)$53,750$25.84
75th percentile (experienced)$63,010$30.29
90th percentile (top earners)$77,530$37.27

Highest-paying states for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay at $80,840 a year, followed by Hawaii ($79,000) and Connecticut ($64,880). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $47,970 — a gap of $32,870 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Alaska$80,840$38.87+50%
2Hawaii$79,000$37.98+47%
3Connecticut$64,880$31.19+21%
4Wyoming$63,820$30.68+19%
5Washington$63,020$30.30+17%

Workforce and education

About 416,000 people work as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,760 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers make in the United States?
The median Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in the United States is $53,750 per year, or about $25.84 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $39,240, while the top 10% of earners make $77,530 or more.
How does Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers median of $53,750 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers the most?
Alaska is the highest-paying state for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, with a median salary of $80,840 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers work in the United States?
About 416,000 people were employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.