Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary
In Baton Rouge, LA, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $78,170 at the median, or about $37.58 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $86,109 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,204/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $78K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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What this looks like in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge sits well above the national pay line for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, local pay runs about 45% higher than the U.S. median of $54K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,204/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Baton Rouge offers a genuinely strong financial position for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $63K | $68K |
| Lafayette | $58K | $66K |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $57K | $67K |
| Lake Charles | $73K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $81K | +50% | 790 |
| Hawaii | $79K | +47% | 520 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +21% | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $64K | +19% | 1,850 |
| Washington | $63K | +17% | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $63K | +16% | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | +16% | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $62K | +16% | 13,690 |
| Maine | $62K | +16% | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $62K | +15% | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $62K | +14% | 1,600 |
| Vermont | $61K | +13% | 340 |
| Maryland | $60K | +12% | 2,850 |
| Minnesota | $60K | +12% | 9,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60K | +12% | 280 |
| New Mexico | $60K | +11% | 2,390 |
| Oregon | $59K | +11% | 5,240 |
| New Jersey | $59K | +11% | 3,730 |
| Virginia | $59K | +10% | 10,100 |
| New York | $59K | +10% | 8,310 |
| Colorado | $59K | +9% | 4,970 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +9% | 15,320 |
| Utah | $58K | +9% | 4,440 |
| California | $58K | +8% | 26,060 |
| Delaware | $57K | +7% | 600 |
| Montana | $56K | +3% | 1,530 |
| Arizona | $56K | +3% | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $55K | +2% | 9,270 |
| Texas | $53K | -1% | 52,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $53K | -2% | 17,850 |
| Nebraska | $52K | -3% | 4,200 |
| Missouri | $52K | -3% | 10,600 |
| Kentucky | $51K | -4% | 6,630 |
| Illinois | $51K | -5% | 16,260 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -5% | 6,460 |
| Florida | $51K | -6% | 16,420 |
| North Carolina | $51K | -6% | 11,750 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | -6% | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $51K | -6% | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $50K | -6% | 20,330 |
| Michigan | $50K | -7% | 13,330 |
| South Carolina | $50K | -7% | 7,380 |
| Indiana | $50K | -7% | 13,280 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -7% | 9,960 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -8% | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $49K | -8% | 6,370 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -9% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $48K | -10% | 12,450 |
| Georgia | $48K | -10% | 13,130 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -11% | 12,510 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -11% | 6,150 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,969/month. At HUD’s $1,204/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Baton Rouge?
Local pay is 45% above the national median — $78K here vs. $54K nationally.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Baton Rouge pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $78,170 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,480, and experienced welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers can clear $92,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,053/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 23.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary go in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary is worth about $86,109 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.