SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN (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 + IN + Municipal
COL Index: 97.47 (-2.5% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 74.8% Realized
$38,107 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $50,950 $24.50/hr
Effective Tax Drag 19.21% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$9,786 $376.39/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 $24.50 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,057/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$367/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,567
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,159
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$739
Indiana Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,383
Elkhart County income tax
2.00%
-$938
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$38,107 ($1,465.65 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Elkhart-Goshen, IN Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $50,950
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $39.8k 25th $46.3k Median: $50,950 50th (Median) $51.0k 75th $64.3k 90th $80.1k You: $50,950
10th (Entry) $39,780 $19.13/hr
25th (Junior) $46,260 $22.24/hr
50th (Median) $50,950 $24.50/hr
75th (Senior) $64,330 $30.93/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $80,080 $38.50/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Elkhart-Goshen, IN
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$37,158$17.86/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$44,362$21.33/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$50,997$24.52/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$59,718$28.71/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$73,463$35.32/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Elkhart-Goshen, IN 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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
33% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,048/month Requires minimum annual gross of $41,920
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,253/month Requires minimum annual gross of $50,120
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $21.56/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $19.41/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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN.

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$50,950-$9,786$38,107$1,465.65
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$60,503-$12,039$44,834$1,724.38
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$70,056-$14,292$51,561$1,983.12
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$79,609-$17,378$57,455$2,209.80
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$89,163-$20,529$63,284$2,433.99
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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$50,950/yr
$24.50/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
19.21% Effective
-$9,786 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
33% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,128/mo
Post-$1,048/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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Elkhart-Goshen, IN report a median annual wage of $50,950, 5.2% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $39,780 to $80,080, and HUD’s $1,048 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 24.7% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $21.56 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+68.4%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+59.2%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+57.4%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+53.4%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+47.3%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+45.2%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+43.1%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+40.8%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+32.1%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+30.4%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Architectural and Engineering Managers$150,010$72.12/hr
Financial Manager$145,980$70.18/hr
Marketing Managers$139,520$67.08/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$138,060$66.38/hr
Sales Managers$136,270$65.51/hr
Human Resources Managers$134,320$64.58/hr
Purchasing Managers$130,510$62.75/hr
Administrative Services Managers$127,210$61.16/hr
Nurse Practitioner$127,190$61.15/hr
General and Operations Managers$122,070$58.69/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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Elkhart-Goshen, IN is $50,950 a year ($24.50/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Elkhart-Goshen, IN 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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

The median annual wage is $50,950 ($24.50 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $39,780 and $80,080. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Elkhart-Goshen, IN after taxes?

On the median wage of $50,950, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $40,646 a year ($3,387 a month) after $10,304 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 20.22%, using 2026 tax rules.