Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary
In New Mexico, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $59,840 at the median, or about $28.77 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $64,303 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in New Mexico?
About welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $54K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | $57K | -4% | 500 |
| Santa Fe | $53K | -12% | 30 |
| Albuquerque | $50K | -16% | 510 |
| Las Cruces | $48K | -21% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,212/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $60K here vs. $54K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
New Mexico pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in New Mexico?
The median is $59,840 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,860, and experienced welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers can clear $92,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,015/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 27.9% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $64,303 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.