SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (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 + CO
COL Index: 137.11 (+37.1% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 75.7% Realized
$44,592 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $58,890 $28.31/hr
Effective Tax Drag 18.28% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$10,764 $414.01/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 $28.31 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,533/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$424/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,463
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,651
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$854
Colorado Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,727
Denver Occupational Privilege Tax
LOCAL
-$69
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$44,592 ($1,715.09 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $58,890
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $45.1k 25th $47.9k Median: $58,890 50th (Median) $58.9k 75th $70.8k 90th $79.7k You: $58,890
10th (Entry) $45,060 $21.66/hr
25th (Junior) $47,870 $23.01/hr
50th (Median) $58,890 $28.31/hr
75th (Senior) $70,760 $34.02/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $79,700 $38.32/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$42,949$20.65/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$51,275$24.65/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$58,945$28.34/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$69,025$33.19/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$84,911$40.82/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
49% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,831/month Requires minimum annual gross of $73,240
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $2,169/month Requires minimum annual gross of $86,760
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $30.32/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $28.13/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO.

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$58,890-$10,764$44,592$1,715.09
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$69,932-$13,311$52,425$2,016.34
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$80,974-$16,820$59,296$2,280.61
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$92,016-$20,404$66,090$2,541.93
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$103,058-$23,989$72,885$2,803.26
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$58,890/yr
$28.31/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
18.28% Effective
-$10,764 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
49% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$1,885/mo
Post-$1,831/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO report a median annual wage of $58,890, 9.6% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $45,060 to $79,700, and HUD’s $1,831 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 37.3% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $30.32 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+45.7%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+37.7%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+36.2%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+32.7%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+27.4%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+25.7%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+23.8%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+21.8%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+14.2%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+12.8%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Computer and Information Systems Managers$203,340$97.76/hr
Financial Manager$193,400$92.98/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$191,440$92.04/hr
Marketing Managers$182,470$87.73/hr
Sales Managers$181,580$87.30/hr
Purchasing Managers$180,000$86.54/hr
Public Relations Managers$174,260$83.78/hr
Human Resources Managers$170,940$82.18/hr
Compensation and Benefits Managers$168,850$81.18/hr
Advertising and Promotions Managers$165,000$79.33/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $58,890 a year ($28.31/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?

The median annual wage is $58,890 ($28.31 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $45,060 and $79,700. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO after taxes?

On the median wage of $58,890, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $47,546 a year ($3,962 a month) after $11,344 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 19.26%, using 2026 tax rules.