SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Lewiston-Auburn, ME (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 + ME
COL Index: 106.14 (+6.1% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 75.7% Realized
$42,014 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $55,520 $26.69/hr
Effective Tax Drag 18.33% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$10,175 $391.34/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 $26.69 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,331/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$400/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,083
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,442
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$805
Maine Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,845
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$42,014 ($1,615.92 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Lewiston-Auburn, ME Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $55,520
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $46.4k 25th $48.1k Median: $55,520 50th (Median) $55.5k 75th $59.8k 90th $71.8k You: $55,520
10th (Entry) $46,430 $22.32/hr
25th (Junior) $48,100 $23.13/hr
50th (Median) $55,520 $26.69/hr
75th (Senior) $59,820 $28.76/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $71,830 $34.53/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Lewiston-Auburn, ME
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$40,491$19.47/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$48,341$23.24/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$55,572$26.72/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$65,075$31.29/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$80,052$38.49/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Lewiston-Auburn, ME 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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
37% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,282/month Requires minimum annual gross of $51,280
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,677/month Requires minimum annual gross of $67,080
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $23.47/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $21.95/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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME.

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$55,520-$10,175$42,014$1,615.92
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$65,930-$12,806$49,168$1,891.08
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$76,340-$15,963$55,797$2,146.02
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$86,750-$19,573$61,972$2,383.55
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$97,160-$23,204$68,126$2,620.23
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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$55,520/yr
$26.69/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
18.33% Effective
-$10,175 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
37% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,219/mo
Post-$1,282/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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Lewiston-Auburn, ME report a median annual wage of $55,520, 3.3% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $46,430 to $71,830, and HUD’s $1,282 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 27.7% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $23.47 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+54.5%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+46.1%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+44.5%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+40.8%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+35.2%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+33.3%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+31.3%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+29.2%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+21.2%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+19.6%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Lewiston-Auburn, ME

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Physician Assistant$143,710$69.09/hr
Chief Executives$138,440$66.56/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$138,050$66.37/hr
Nurse Practitioner$135,630$65.21/hr
Financial Manager$131,190$63.07/hr
Industrial Production Managers$126,300$60.72/hr
Marketing Managers$126,140$60.64/hr
Sales Managers$125,230$60.21/hr
Construction Managers$117,870$56.67/hr
Software Engineer$117,700$56.59/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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Lewiston-Auburn, ME is $55,520 a year ($26.69/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Lewiston-Auburn, ME 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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME?

The median annual wage is $55,520 ($26.69 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $46,430 and $71,830. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Lewiston-Auburn, ME after taxes?

On the median wage of $55,520, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $44,721 a year ($3,727 a month) after $10,799 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 19.45%, using 2026 tax rules.