Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in Merced, CA
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $50,340 a year ($24.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,530 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $53,750. Pay here is 13% lower than the California statewide median of $58,060. There are 3.8 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,330 | $20.83 |
| 25th percentile | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| Median | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| 75th percentile | $58,340 | $28.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,530 | $30.06 |
| Average (mean) | $52,470 | $25.23 |
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 | $4,195 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,097.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,936.15 |
| Weekly | $968.08 |
| Hourly | $24.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,340 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,320 | 1,990 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,140 | 1,050 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,860 | 280 |
| Napa, CA | $62,890 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $62,560 | 2,940 |
| El Centro, CA | $58,350 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $58,240 | 200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,360 | 800 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,290 | 1,530 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $56,720 | 260 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,160 | 7,850 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $54,560 | 580 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $53,280 | 180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $52,800 | 170 |
| Modesto, CA | $52,590 | 450 |
| Redding, CA | $52,450 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,050 | 3,810 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $51,480 | 740 |
| Yuba City, CA | $51,040 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $50,840 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,550 | 950 |
| Chico, CA | $48,740 | 160 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,520 | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,850 | 350 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Machinist | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Food Batchmaker | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $63,550 | $30.56 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Baker | $42,900 | $20.63 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $76,790 | $36.92 |
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Merced, CA metro area is $50,340 a year, or $24.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $62,530 a year. The top 25% earn $58,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,330 a year, and a quarter of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $45,410 or less.
How many welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers work in Merced, CA?
About 310 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.