Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $49,280 a year ($23.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,020 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $53,750. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $50,590. There are 0.84 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.31). The average (mean) salary is $53,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| 25th percentile | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Median | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| 75th percentile | $60,640 | $29.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,020 | $33.18 |
| Average (mean) | $53,180 | $25.57 |
Half of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,106.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,053.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,895.38 |
| Weekly | $947.69 |
| Hourly | $23.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,280 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,670 | 3,740 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,360 | 230 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $56,940 | 1,090 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $56,070 | 3,370 |
| Wilmington, NC | $55,340 | 260 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $54,180 | 1,180 |
| Asheville, NC | $52,540 | 290 |
| Burlington, NC | $50,740 | 120 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $49,780 | 80 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $49,600 | 250 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $48,320 | 140 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,370 | 1,230 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,080 | 450 |
Highest-paying states for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 |
| Washington | $63,020 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 |
| Maine | $62,220 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 |
See Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Machinist | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,930 | $22.08 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,820 | $19.63 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,390 | $23.74 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,620 | $20.49 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $60,080 | $28.88 |
| Baker | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,570 | $16.62 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $49,280 a year, or $23.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $69,020 a year. The top 25% earn $60,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,670 a year, and a quarter of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $45,950 or less.
How many welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 290 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.