SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (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 + MI + Municipal
COL Index: 109.79 (+9.8% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 74.6% Realized
$36,476 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $48,920 $23.52/hr
Effective Tax Drag 19.44% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$9,509 $365.73/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 $23.52 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$2,935/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$352/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,338
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,033
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$709
Michigan Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,704
Grand Rapids city income tax
1.50%
-$725
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$36,476 ($1,402.92 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $48,920
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $39.5k 25th $47.3k Median: $48,920 50th (Median) $48.9k 75th $57.2k 90th $63.0k You: $48,920
10th (Entry) $39,540 $19.01/hr
25th (Junior) $47,300 $22.74/hr
50th (Median) $48,920 $23.52/hr
75th (Senior) $57,210 $27.50/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $63,030 $30.30/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$35,677$17.15/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$42,595$20.48/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$48,966$23.54/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$57,339$27.57/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$70,536$33.91/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
45% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,365/month Requires minimum annual gross of $54,600
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,630/month Requires minimum annual gross of $65,200
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $24.28/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.98/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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.

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$48,920-$9,509$36,476$1,402.92
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$58,093-$11,749$42,858$1,648.37
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$67,265-$13,990$49,239$1,893.82
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$76,438-$16,765$55,086$2,118.69
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$85,610-$19,868$60,606$2,330.98
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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$48,920/yr
$23.52/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
19.44% Effective
-$9,509 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
45% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$1,675/mo
Post-$1,365/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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI report a median annual wage of $48,920, 9.0% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $39,540 to $63,030, and HUD’s $1,365 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 33.5% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $24.28 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+75.4%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+65.8%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+64.0%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+59.8%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+53.4%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+51.3%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+49.1%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+46.6%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+37.5%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+35.8%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$248,660$119.55/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$156,280$75.13/hr
Compensation and Benefits Managers$151,860$73.01/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$142,700$68.61/hr
Financial Manager$133,380$64.12/hr
Human Resources Managers$132,100$63.51/hr
Physician Assistant$131,930$63.43/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$131,550$63.25/hr
Sales Managers$131,030$63.00/hr
Marketing Managers$128,900$61.97/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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI is $48,920 a year ($23.52/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI?

The median annual wage is $48,920 ($23.52 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $39,540 and $63,030. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI after taxes?

On the median wage of $48,920, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $38,934 a year ($3,245 a month) after $9,986 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 20.41%, using 2026 tax rules.