SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Fargo, ND-MN (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 + ND
COL Index: 86.25 (-13.8% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 78.6% Realized
$48,078 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $61,140 $29.39/hr
Effective Tax Drag 15.36% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$9,394 $361.30/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 $29.39 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,668/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$440/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,717
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,791
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$887
North Dakota Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$48,078 ($1,849.15 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Fargo, ND-MN Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $61,140
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $46.7k 25th $52.3k Median: $61,140 50th (Median) $61.1k 75th $64.1k 90th $74.2k You: $61,140
10th (Entry) $46,660 $22.43/hr
25th (Junior) $52,260 $25.13/hr
50th (Median) $61,140 $29.39/hr
75th (Senior) $64,130 $30.83/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $74,230 $35.69/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Fargo, ND-MN
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$44,590$21.44/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$53,234$25.59/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$61,197$29.42/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$71,662$34.45/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$88,155$42.38/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Fargo, ND-MN 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 Fargo, ND-MN 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) $903/month Requires minimum annual gross of $36,120
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,104/month Requires minimum annual gross of $44,160
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $19.07/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $18.48/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 Fargo, ND-MN.

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$61,140-$9,394$48,078$1,849.15
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$72,604-$11,789$56,459$2,171.49
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$84,068-$15,247$63,777$2,452.96
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$95,531-$18,704$71,095$2,734.42
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$106,995-$22,162$78,413$3,015.89
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 Fargo, ND-MN: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$61,140/yr
$29.39/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
15.36% Effective
-$9,394 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
23% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$3,103/mo
Post-$903/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 Fargo, ND-MN: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Fargo, ND-MN report a median annual wage of $61,140, 13.7% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $46,660 to $74,230, and HUD’s $903 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 17.7% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $19.07 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+40.3%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+32.7%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+31.2%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+27.9%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+22.7%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+21.0%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+19.3%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+17.3%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+10.0%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+8.6%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Fargo, ND-MN

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$188,510$90.63/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$152,990$73.55/hr
Human Resources Managers$144,450$69.45/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$141,990$68.26/hr
Financial Manager$136,970$65.85/hr
Physician Assistant$136,610$65.68/hr
Nurse Practitioner$130,070$62.53/hr
Marketing Managers$126,790$60.96/hr
Public Relations Managers$121,370$58.35/hr
Sales Managers$119,990$57.69/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 Fargo, ND-MN (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Fargo, ND-MN is $61,140 a year ($29.39/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Fargo, ND-MN 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 Fargo, ND-MN?

The median annual wage is $61,140 ($29.39 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $46,660 and $74,230. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

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

On the median wage of $61,140, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $51,306 a year ($4,275 a month) after $9,834 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 16.08%, using 2026 tax rules.