Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,530 or more. The middle half of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Merced earn between $45,410 and $58,340.
- $43K10th
- $45K25th
- $50KMedian
- $58K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,470 | $4,372 | $25.23 |
| Median | $50,340 | $4,195 | $24.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,410 | $3,784 | $21.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,340 | $4,862 | $28.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Merced earn 14% less than the California average ($61,120) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($56,760). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $53,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $52,470 | $50,340 | $43,330 | $62,530 | 310 |
| California | $61,120 | $58,060 | $44,520 | $81,940 | 26,060 |
| United States | $56,760 | $53,750 | $39,240 | $77,530 | 416,210 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $52,470, a single filer in Merced takes home about $42,999 a year, or $3,583 a month and $1,654 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $52,470 buys what about $53,391 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 24th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($70,680).
- San Francisco$70,680
- San Jose$69,120
- Vallejo$68,110
- Napa$67,150
- San Diego$65,350
- Santa Rosa$61,320
- Salinas$61,120
- Sacramento$60,940
- El Centro$60,400
- Merced$52,470
All Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($83,300).
- Fairbanks, AK$83,300
- Honolulu, HI$79,390
- Bremerton, WA$76,990
- Anchorage, AK$74,000
- Baton Rouge, LA$72,430
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Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in Merced: questions
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make an hour in Merced?
$25.23 an hour on average, and $24.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers take-home pay in Merced?
About $42,999 a year ($3,583 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,470. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($56,760).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4121; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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