Welders, Cutters & Solderers salary in Washington, DC
Median pay for welders, cutters & solderers in Washington, DC: $59,490/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $41,520 – $86,940 · about 1,840 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($48,615) by +$10,875 (+22%).
What it's really worth in Washington
With Washington's cost of living at 110 (US=100), that $59,490 has the buying power of about $54,307 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $119,803 · median home $583,013 · median rent $2,416/mo.
How Washington ranks for this job
On raw pay, Washington, DC is 15th of the 186 metros we hold welders, cutters & solderers wages for. Once Washington's cost of living is applied, it ranks 40th.
The headline number flatters Washington. 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 Washington
A median home in Washington, DC costs $583,013 — about 9.8× 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 $2,416/mo works out at 49% 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 Washington.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Washington | Rent vs Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $76,540 | +29% | 1.2× |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $70,010 | +18% | 0.6× |
| Bremerton, WA | $66,310 | +11% | 0.9× |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $63,630 | +7% | 0.8× |
Who hires welders, cutters & solderers around Washington
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Northrop Grumman · Aerospace/Defense
Other jobs in Washington
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.