SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (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 + TX
COL Index: 82.52 (-17.5% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 79.9% Realized
$35,977 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $45,020 $21.64/hr
Effective Tax Drag 14.09% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$6,342 $243.93/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 $21.64 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$2,701/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$324/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$2,898
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$2,791
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$653
Texas Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$35,977 ($1,383.71 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $45,020
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $30.2k 25th $36.0k Median: $45,020 50th (Median) $45.0k 75th $57.5k 90th $76.7k You: $45,020
10th (Entry) $30,230 $14.53/hr
25th (Junior) $36,050 $17.33/hr
50th (Median) $45,020 $21.64/hr
75th (Senior) $57,540 $27.66/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $76,710 $36.88/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$32,833$15.79/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$39,199$18.85/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$45,062$21.66/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$52,768$25.37/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$64,913$31.21/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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) $884/month Requires minimum annual gross of $35,360
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,042/month Requires minimum annual gross of $41,680
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $18.25/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $16.43/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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX.

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$45,020-$6,342$35,977$1,383.71
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$53,461-$7,940$42,313$1,627.44
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$61,903-$9,538$48,650$1,871.16
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$70,344-$11,136$54,987$2,114.89
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$78,785-$13,490$60,568$2,329.54
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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$45,020/yr
$21.64/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
14.09% Effective
-$6,342 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
29% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,114/mo
Post-$884/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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX report a median annual wage of $45,020, 16.2% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $30,230 to $76,710, and HUD’s $884 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 23.6% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $18.25 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+90.6%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+80.2%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+78.2%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+73.6%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+66.7%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+64.4%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+62.0%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+59.3%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+49.4%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+47.5%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$178,860$85.99/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$157,160$75.56/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$137,880$66.29/hr
Financial Manager$129,820$62.41/hr
Physician Assistant$127,370$61.24/hr
Nurse Practitioner$124,530$59.87/hr
Marketing Managers$113,220$54.43/hr
Industrial Production Managers$110,830$53.28/hr
Human Resources Managers$110,230$53.00/hr
Software Engineer$106,990$51.44/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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $45,020 a year ($21.64/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The median annual wage is $45,020 ($21.64 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $30,230 and $76,710. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX after taxes?

On the median wage of $45,020, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $38,354 a year ($3,196 a month) after $6,666 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 14.81%, using 2026 tax rules.