SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + VA
COL Index: 101.86 (+1.9% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 74.9% Realized
$43,156 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $57,650 $27.72/hr
Effective Tax Drag 19.14% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$11,035 $424.42/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $27.72 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,459/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$415/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,323
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,574
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$836
Virginia Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$2,302
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$43,156 ($1,659.85 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Welder Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $57,650
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $40.5k 25th $46.8k Median: $57,650 50th (Median) $57.6k 75th $62.8k 90th $62.8k You: $57,650
10th (Entry) $40,510 $19.48/hr
25th (Junior) $46,800 $22.50/hr
50th (Median) $57,650 $27.72/hr
75th (Senior) $62,820 $30.20/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $62,820 $30.20/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$42,044$20.21/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$50,196$24.13/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$57,704$27.74/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$67,571$32.49/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$83,123$39.96/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA medianView National Welder Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers-$40/yr
National median: $53,710
Skill overlap: 91%
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders-$5,830/yr
National median: $47,920
Skill overlap: 89%
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters-$2,420/yr
National median: $51,330
Skill overlap: 89%
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers+$11,630/yr
National median: $65,380
Skill overlap: 78%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
29% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,050/month Requires minimum annual gross of $42,000
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,340/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,600
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.53/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.56/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$57,650-$11,035$43,156$1,659.85
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$68,459-$13,665$50,686$1,949.47
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$79,269-$17,097$57,415$2,208.29
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$90,078-$20,744$63,930$2,458.83
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$100,888-$24,390$70,444$2,709.38
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Welder in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Virginia tax codes.

Market Baseline
$57,650/yr
$27.72/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
19.14% Effective
-$11,035 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
29% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,546/mo
Post-$1,050/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 51-4121
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Welder in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA report a median annual wage of $57,650, 7.3% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $40,510 to $62,820, and HUD’s $1,050 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 21.9% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.53 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+48.8%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+40.7%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+39.1%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+35.6%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+30.2%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+28.4%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+26.5%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+24.4%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+16.7%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+15.2%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$208,030$100.01/hr
Sales Managers$160,830$77.32/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$157,250$75.60/hr
Fundraising Managers$143,730$69.10/hr
Financial Manager$139,800$67.21/hr
Human Resources Managers$138,220$66.45/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$137,870$66.28/hr
Industrial Production Managers$125,400$60.29/hr
Physician Assistant$125,050$60.12/hr
Nurse Practitioner$124,800$60.00/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 382 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Welder Salary in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA is $57,650 a year ($27.72/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Welder in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?

The median annual wage is $57,650 ($27.72 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $40,510 and $62,820. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA after taxes?

On the median wage of $57,650, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $46,001 a year ($3,833 a month) after $11,649 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 20.21%, using 2026 tax rules.