SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (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 + TX
COL Index: 107.37 (+7.4% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 78.8% Realized
$45,676 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $57,940 $27.86/hr
Effective Tax Drag 15.17% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$8,788 $338.00/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 $27.86 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,476/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$417/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,356
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,592
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$840
Texas Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$45,676 ($1,756.75 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $57,940
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $38.5k 25th $46.5k Median: $57,940 50th (Median) $57.9k 75th $71.5k 90th $81.9k You: $57,940
10th (Entry) $38,480 $18.50/hr
25th (Junior) $46,470 $22.34/hr
50th (Median) $57,940 $27.86/hr
75th (Senior) $71,460 $34.36/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $81,940 $39.39/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$42,256$20.32/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$50,448$24.25/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$57,994$27.88/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$67,911$32.65/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$83,541$40.16/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 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) $1,261/month Requires minimum annual gross of $50,440
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,497/month Requires minimum annual gross of $59,880
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $23.75/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.58/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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.

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$57,940-$8,788$45,676$1,756.75
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$68,804-$10,845$53,831$2,070.42
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$79,668-$13,740$61,148$2,351.83
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$90,531-$16,818$68,282$2,626.23
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$101,395-$19,895$75,416$2,900.62
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$57,940/yr
$27.86/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
15.17% Effective
-$8,788 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
33% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,545/mo
Post-$1,261/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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX report a median annual wage of $57,940, 7.8% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $38,480 to $81,940, and HUD’s $1,261 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 26.1% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $23.75 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+48.1%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+40.0%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+38.4%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+34.9%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+29.5%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+27.7%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+25.9%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+23.8%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+16.1%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+14.6%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$275,270$132.34/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$172,160$82.77/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$172,020$82.70/hr
Financial Manager$166,910$80.25/hr
Marketing Managers$153,030$73.57/hr
Compensation and Benefits Managers$148,870$71.57/hr
Human Resources Managers$142,110$68.32/hr
Data Engineer$139,100$66.88/hr
Purchasing Managers$139,050$66.85/hr
Physician Assistant$137,240$65.98/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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is $57,940 a year ($27.86/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?

The median annual wage is $57,940 ($27.86 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $38,480 and $81,940. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX after taxes?

On the median wage of $57,940, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $48,735 a year ($4,061 a month) after $9,205 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 15.89%, using 2026 tax rules.