SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Duluth, MN-WI (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 + MN
COL Index: 96.94 (-3.1% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 75.1% Realized
$43,131 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $57,410 $27.60/hr
Effective Tax Drag 18.87% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$10,834 $416.69/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 $27.60 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,445/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$413/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,296
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,559
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$832
Minnesota Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$2,146
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$43,131 ($1,658.90 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Duluth, MN-WI Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $57,410
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $46.4k 25th $50.3k Median: $57,410 50th (Median) $57.4k 75th $64.4k 90th $81.2k You: $57,410
10th (Entry) $46,390 $22.30/hr
25th (Junior) $50,340 $24.20/hr
50th (Median) $57,410 $27.60/hr
75th (Senior) $64,420 $30.97/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $81,190 $39.03/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Duluth, MN-WI
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$41,869$20.13/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$49,987$24.03/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$57,463$27.63/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$67,290$32.35/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$82,777$39.80/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Duluth, MN-WI 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 Duluth, MN-WI under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
27% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $961/month Requires minimum annual gross of $38,440
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,207/month Requires minimum annual gross of $48,280
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $21.44/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.87/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 Duluth, MN-WI.

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$57,410-$10,834$43,131$1,658.90
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$68,174-$13,560$50,524$1,943.24
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$78,939-$17,056$57,147$2,197.95
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$89,703-$20,793$63,528$2,443.37
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$100,468-$24,531$69,909$2,688.79
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 Duluth, MN-WI: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$57,410/yr
$27.60/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
18.87% Effective
-$10,834 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
27% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,633/mo
Post-$961/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 Duluth, MN-WI: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Duluth, MN-WI report a median annual wage of $57,410, 6.8% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $46,390 to $81,190, and HUD’s $961 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 20.1% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $21.44 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+49.4%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+41.3%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+39.7%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+36.2%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+30.7%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+28.9%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+27.0%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+24.9%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+17.2%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+15.7%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Duluth, MN-WI

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$158,260$76.09/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$150,190$72.21/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$149,710$71.98/hr
Marketing Managers$142,080$68.31/hr
Nurse Practitioner$136,530$65.64/hr
Physician Assistant$135,860$65.32/hr
Financial Manager$126,800$60.96/hr
Human Resources Managers$124,290$59.75/hr
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$123,090$59.18/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$113,500$54.57/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 Duluth, MN-WI (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Duluth, MN-WI is $57,410 a year ($27.60/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Duluth, MN-WI 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 Duluth, MN-WI?

The median annual wage is $57,410 ($27.60 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $46,390 and $81,190. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Duluth, MN-WI after taxes?

On the median wage of $57,410, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $45,928 a year ($3,827 a month) after $11,482 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 20%, using 2026 tax rules.