Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary
In Louisiana, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $62,250 at the median, or about $29.93 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $71,322 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Louisiana?
About welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Louisiana sits well above the national pay line for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $54K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by metro in Louisiana
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $78K | +26% | 3,690 |
| Lake Charles | $73K | +17% | 970 |
| Alexandria | $64K | +4% | 230 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $64K | +2% | 910 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $63K | +2% | 2,000 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $61K | -2% | 330 |
| Hammond | $58K | -6% | 60 |
| Lafayette | $58K | -7% | 1,860 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $57K | -8% | 1,350 |
| Monroe | $52K | -17% | 420 |
Compare to other states
Track welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,569/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $62K here vs. $54K nationally.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Louisiana pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Louisiana?
The median is $62,250 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,810, and experienced welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers can clear $81,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,166/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 28.6% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $71,322 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.