Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in Modesto, CA
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $52,590 a year ($25.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,670 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $53,750. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $58,060. There are 2.3 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $57,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| 25th percentile | $47,390 | $22.78 |
| Median | $52,590 | $25.29 |
| 75th percentile | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,670 | $36.38 |
| Average (mean) | $57,620 | $27.70 |
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 | $4,382.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,191.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,022.69 |
| Weekly | $1,011.35 |
| Hourly | $25.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $52,590 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 |
| 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 |
| Merced, CA | $50,340 | 310 |
| 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 Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,600 | $25.77 |
| Machinist | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $41,850 | $20.12 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $52,300 | $25.14 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $73,690 | $35.43 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Baker | $39,450 | $18.96 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $52,430 | $25.21 |
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 Modesto, CA?
The median salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Modesto, CA metro area is $52,590 a year, or $25.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $75,670 a year. The top 25% earn $62,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,850 a year, and a quarter of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $47,390 or less.
How many welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers work in Modesto, CA?
About 450 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.