Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary
In North Carolina, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $50,590 at the median, or about $24.32 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $54,597 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 37.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in North Carolina?
About welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 38.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by metro in North Carolina
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | $57K | +13% | 230 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $57K | +13% | 1,090 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $56K | +11% | 3,370 |
| Wilmington | $55K | +9% | 260 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $54K | +7% | 1,180 |
| Asheville | $53K | +4% | 290 |
| Burlington | $51K | +0% | 120 |
| Fayetteville | $50K | -2% | 80 |
| Rocky Mount | $50K | -2% | 250 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $49K | -3% | 290 |
| Goldsboro | $48K | -4% | 140 |
| Winston-Salem | $46K | -8% | 1,230 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $46K | -9% | 450 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 38.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,312/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
North Carolina pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in North Carolina?
The median is $50,590 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,540, and experienced welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers can clear $71,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 38.1% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $54,597 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.