Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary
In Alaska, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $80,840 at the median, or about $38.87 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $77,500 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Alaska?
About welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, local pay runs about 50% higher than the U.S. median of $54K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College | $80K | -1% | 70 |
| Anchorage | $74K | -8% | 250 |
Compare to other states
Track welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 30.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,980/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 50% above the national median — $81K here vs. $54K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Alaska pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Alaska?
The median is $80,840 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,660, and experienced welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers can clear $109,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 30.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary is worth about $77,500 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.