Welder Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (2026)
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine
Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Welder Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.
Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator
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Welder in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.
Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways
Statutory Withholding Architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
- 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC: Market Snapshot
Welder roles in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC report a median annual wage of $46,080, 14.3% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $37,790 to $62,130, and HUD’s $965 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 25.1% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $21.98 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| Lima, OH | $85,790 | +86.2% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,120 | +76.0% |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $80,210 | +74.1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $78,170 | +69.6% |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $75,040 | +62.8% |
| Anchorage, AK | $74,000 | +60.6% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $72,920 | +58.2% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $71,720 | +55.6% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $67,280 | +46.0% |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $66,420 | +44.1% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $312,730 | $150.35/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $170,730 | $82.08/hr |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $163,010 | $78.37/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $162,690 | $78.22/hr |
| Marketing Managers | $151,190 | $72.69/hr |
| Financial Manager | $138,150 | $66.42/hr |
| Purchasing Managers | $132,570 | $63.74/hr |
| Sales Managers | $132,060 | $63.49/hr |
| Physician Assistant | $127,210 | $61.16/hr |
| Nurse Practitioner | $126,620 | $60.88/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
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Related Skilled Trades Roles in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Roles in related occupations with transferable skills and overlapping employer demand.
Other Metros for Welder
Regional metropolitan labor markets within commuter or relocation distance with local BLS wages and living costs.
Welder median pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $46,080 a year ($22.15/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $46,080 ($22.15 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $37,790 and $62,130. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $46,080, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $37,875 a year ($3,156 a month) after $8,205 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 17.81%, using 2026 tax rules.