Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Salary
In West Virginia, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $48,810 at the median, or about $23.46 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $54,824 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in West Virginia?
About welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $54K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weirton-Steubenville | $55K | +14% | 180 |
| Wheeling | $50K | +2% | 160 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $49K | +1% | 90 |
| Beckley | $49K | +0% | 120 |
| Charleston | $48K | -2% | 190 |
| Morgantown | $48K | -2% | 140 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $47K | -4% | 550 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,202/month. At HUD’s $1,008/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 West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $54K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
West Virginia pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in West Virginia?
The median is $48,810 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,700, and experienced welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers can clear $73,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,300/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 30.5% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $54,824 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.