Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $51,080 a year ($24.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,950 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $53,750. Pay here is 7% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $55,090. There are 6.4 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| 25th percentile | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Median | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| 75th percentile | $59,060 | $28.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Average (mean) | $54,530 | $26.22 |
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 | $4,256.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,128.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,964.62 |
| Weekly | $982.31 |
| Hourly | $24.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $59,980 | 1,170 |
| Ames, IA | $58,560 | 170 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $58,230 | 440 |
| Iowa City, IA | $57,780 | 130 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $56,750 | 560 |
| Dubuque, IA | $56,100 | 330 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $53,110 | 1,060 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,630 | 1,240 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| Machinist | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,430 | $23.77 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $65,590 | $31.53 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $60,020 | $28.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,300 | $19.38 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,600 | $24.81 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,250 | $24.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,370 | $36.24 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $51,080 a year, or $24.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $63,950 a year. The top 25% earn $59,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,300 a year, and a quarter of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn $47,430 or less.
How many welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 540 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.