Welders, Cutters & Solderers salary in Modesto, CA
Median pay for welders, cutters & solderers in Modesto, CA: $51,120/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $39,000 – $78,800 · about 540 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($48,615) by +$2,505 (+5%).
What it's really worth in Modesto
With Modesto's cost of living at 105 (US=100), that $51,120 has the buying power of about $48,627 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $74,872 · median home $468,302 · median rent $2,052/mo.
How Modesto ranks for this job
On raw pay, Modesto, CA is 52nd of the 186 metros we hold welders, cutters & solderers wages for. Once Modesto's cost of living is applied, it ranks 142nd.
The headline number flatters Modesto. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, welders, cutters & solderers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Modesto
A median home in Modesto, CA costs $468,302 — about 9.2× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,052/mo works out at 48% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where welders, cutters & solderers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Modesto.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Modesto | Rent vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $76,540 | +50% | 1.5× |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $70,010 | +37% | 0.7× |
| Bremerton, WA | $66,310 | +30% | 1× |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $63,630 | +24% | 0.9× |
Same job elsewhere in CA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Modesto | Rent vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $62,880 | +23% | 1.8× |
| San Francisco, CA | $61,410 | +20% | 1.6× |
| Vallejo, CA | $60,780 | +19% | 1.2× |
| Sacramento, CA | $59,940 | +17% | 1.1× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires welders, cutters & solderers around Modesto
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- E. & J. Gallo Winery · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Modesto
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.