SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL (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 + FL
COL Index: 124.02 (+24.0% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 79.2% Realized
$41,524 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $52,410 $25.20/hr
Effective Tax Drag 14.77% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$7,741 $297.74/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 $25.20 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,145/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$377/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,732
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,249
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$760
Florida Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$41,524 ($1,597.08 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $52,410
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $43.0k 25th $47.5k Median: $52,410 50th (Median) $52.4k 75th $61.9k 90th $71.0k You: $52,410
10th (Entry) $43,040 $20.69/hr
25th (Junior) $47,460 $22.82/hr
50th (Median) $52,410 $25.20/hr
75th (Senior) $61,870 $29.75/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $71,040 $34.15/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$38,223$18.38/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$45,633$21.94/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$52,459$25.22/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$61,429$29.53/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$75,568$36.33/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 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 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
45% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,564/month Requires minimum annual gross of $62,560
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,835/month Requires minimum annual gross of $73,400
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $27.43/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $23.20/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 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL.

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$52,410-$7,741$41,524$1,597.08
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$62,237-$9,601$48,901$1,880.82
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$72,064-$11,586$56,154$2,159.78
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$81,891-$14,370$62,608$2,407.98
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$91,718-$17,154$69,061$2,656.19
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 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$52,410/yr
$25.20/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
14.77% Effective
-$7,741 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
45% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$1,896/mo
Post-$1,564/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 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL report a median annual wage of $52,410, 2.5% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $43,040 to $71,040, and HUD’s $1,564 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 35.8% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $27.43 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+63.7%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+54.8%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+53.0%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+49.2%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+43.2%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+41.2%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+39.1%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+36.8%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+28.4%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+26.7%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$202,190$97.21/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$163,590$78.65/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$159,820$76.84/hr
Financial Manager$143,830$69.15/hr
Physician Assistant$131,700$63.32/hr
Human Resources Managers$131,570$63.25/hr
Cybersecurity Analyst$131,500$63.22/hr
Nurse Practitioner$129,670$62.34/hr
Marketing Managers$128,980$62.01/hr
Purchasing Managers$127,460$61.28/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 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL is $52,410 a year ($25.20/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Welder in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL?

The median annual wage is $52,410 ($25.20 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $43,040 and $71,040. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL after taxes?

On the median wage of $52,410, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $44,291 a year ($3,691 a month) after $8,119 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 15.49%, using 2026 tax rules.