SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Killeen-Temple, 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: 96.06 (-3.9% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 79.6% Realized
$38,559 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $48,460 $23.30/hr
Effective Tax Drag 14.43% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$6,993 $268.98/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 $23.30 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$2,908/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$349/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,286
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,005
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$703
Texas Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$38,559 ($1,483.04 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Killeen-Temple, TX Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $48,460
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $37.9k 25th $44.5k Median: $48,460 50th (Median) $48.5k 75th $61.4k 90th $72.7k You: $48,460
10th (Entry) $37,920 $18.23/hr
25th (Junior) $44,530 $21.41/hr
50th (Median) $48,460 $23.30/hr
75th (Senior) $61,440 $29.54/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $72,710 $34.96/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Killeen-Temple, TX
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$35,342$16.99/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$42,194$20.29/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$48,505$23.32/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$56,800$27.31/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$69,873$33.59/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Killeen-Temple, 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 Killeen-Temple, TX under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
29% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $927/month Requires minimum annual gross of $37,080
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,138/month Requires minimum annual gross of $45,520
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $21.24/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $18.27/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 Killeen-Temple, 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$48,460-$6,993$38,559$1,483.04
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$57,546-$8,714$45,380$1,745.38
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$66,633-$10,434$52,201$2,007.73
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$75,719-$12,621$58,555$2,252.10
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$84,805-$15,195$64,521$2,481.59
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 Killeen-Temple, 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
$48,460/yr
$23.30/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
14.43% Effective
-$6,993 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
29% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,286/mo
Post-$927/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 Killeen-Temple, TX: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Killeen-Temple, TX report a median annual wage of $48,460, 9.8% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $37,920 to $72,710, and HUD’s $927 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 23.0% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $21.24 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+77.0%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+67.4%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+65.5%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+61.3%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+54.8%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+52.7%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+50.5%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+48.0%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+38.8%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+37.1%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Killeen-Temple, TX

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$220,940$106.22/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$158,560$76.23/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$154,180$74.12/hr
Financial Manager$140,310$67.46/hr
Physician Assistant$140,200$67.40/hr
Nurse Practitioner$138,670$66.67/hr
Human Resources Managers$135,580$65.18/hr
Sales Managers$123,890$59.56/hr
Purchasing Managers$123,590$59.42/hr
Software Engineer$123,320$59.29/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 Killeen-Temple, TX (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Killeen-Temple, TX is $48,460 a year ($23.30/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Killeen-Temple, 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 Killeen-Temple, TX?

The median annual wage is $48,460 ($23.30 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $37,920 and $72,710. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Killeen-Temple, TX after taxes?

On the median wage of $48,460, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $41,118 a year ($3,426 a month) after $7,342 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 15.15%, using 2026 tax rules.