SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Fairbanks-College, AK (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 + AK
COL Index: 126.48 (+26.5% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 76.7% Realized
$61,504 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $80,210 $38.56/hr
Effective Tax Drag 17.32% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$13,893 $534.37/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 $38.56 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$4,813/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,059/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$7,757
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$4,973
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,163
Alaska Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$61,504 ($2,365.53 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Fairbanks-College, AK Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $80,210
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $58.0k 25th $60.7k Median: $80,210 50th (Median) $80.2k 75th $110k 90th $110k You: $80,210
10th (Entry) $57,980 $27.88/hr
25th (Junior) $60,670 $29.17/hr
50th (Median) $80,210 $38.56/hr
75th (Senior) $109,940 $52.86/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $109,940 $52.86/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Fairbanks-College, AK
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$58,497$28.12/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$69,839$33.58/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$80,285$38.60/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$94,014$45.20/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$115,652$55.60/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Fairbanks-College, AK 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 Fairbanks-College, AK under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
23% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,187/month Requires minimum annual gross of $47,480
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,553/month Requires minimum annual gross of $62,120
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $27.97/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $28.09/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 Fairbanks-College, AK.

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$80,210-$13,893$61,504$2,365.53
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$95,249-$18,154$71,380$2,745.39
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$110,289-$22,415$81,257$3,125.25
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$125,328-$26,675$91,133$3,505.11
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$140,368-$31,139$100,806$3,877.17
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 Fairbanks-College, AK: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$80,210/yr
$38.56/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
17.32% Effective
-$13,893 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
23% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$3,938/mo
Post-$1,187/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 Fairbanks-College, AK: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Fairbanks-College, AK report a median annual wage of $80,210, 49.2% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $57,980 to $109,940, and HUD’s $1,187 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 17.8% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $27.97 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+7.0%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+1.1%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170-2.5%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040-6.4%
Anchorage, AK$74,000-7.7%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920-9.1%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720-10.6%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280-16.1%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420-17.2%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$66,240-17.4%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Fairbanks-College, AK

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Physician Assistant$164,910$79.28/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$159,570$76.72/hr
Chief Executives$150,930$72.56/hr
Nurse Practitioner$144,300$69.38/hr
Construction Managers$137,470$66.09/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$135,980$65.38/hr
Electrical Power-Line Installer$133,220$64.05/hr
Dental Hygienist$131,860$63.39/hr
Medical and Health Services Managers$131,310$63.13/hr
Facilities Managers$123,240$59.25/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 Fairbanks-College, AK (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Fairbanks-College, AK is $80,210 a year ($38.56/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Fairbanks-College, AK 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 Fairbanks-College, AK?

The median annual wage is $80,210 ($38.56 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $57,980 and $109,940. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Fairbanks-College, AK after taxes?

On the median wage of $80,210, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $65,258 a year ($5,438 a month) after $14,952 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 18.64%, using 2026 tax rules.