SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR (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 + AR
COL Index: 101.65 (+1.7% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 77.1% Realized
$36,589 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $47,440 $22.81/hr
Effective Tax Drag 16.87% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$8,004 $307.86/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 $22.81 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$2,846/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$342/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,171
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$2,941
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$688
Arkansas Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,204
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$36,589 ($1,407.28 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $47,440
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $38.3k 25th $42.7k Median: $47,440 50th (Median) $47.4k 75th $53.4k 90th $60.2k You: $47,440
10th (Entry) $38,340 $18.43/hr
25th (Junior) $42,660 $20.51/hr
50th (Median) $47,440 $22.81/hr
75th (Senior) $53,350 $25.65/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $60,250 $28.97/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$34,598$16.63/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$41,306$19.86/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$47,484$22.83/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$55,604$26.73/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$68,402$32.89/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
32% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $969/month Requires minimum annual gross of $38,760
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,121/month Requires minimum annual gross of $44,840
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.48/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $19.33/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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR.

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$47,440-$8,004$36,589$1,407.28
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$56,335-$10,014$42,941$1,651.56
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$65,230-$12,024$49,292$1,895.85
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$74,125-$14,352$55,326$2,127.91
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$83,020-$17,198$60,841$2,340.04
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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$47,440/yr
$22.81/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
16.87% Effective
-$8,004 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
32% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,080/mo
Post-$969/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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR report a median annual wage of $47,440, 11.7% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $38,340 to $60,250, and HUD’s $969 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 24.5% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.48 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+80.8%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+71.0%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+69.1%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+64.8%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+58.2%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+56.0%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+53.7%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+51.2%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+41.8%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+40.0%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Architectural and Engineering Managers$148,930$71.60/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$129,700$62.36/hr
Purchasing Managers$129,700$62.36/hr
Chief Executives$129,490$62.25/hr
Nurse Practitioner$126,680$60.90/hr
Industrial Production Managers$124,550$59.88/hr
Data Engineer$121,490$58.41/hr
Financial Manager$119,360$57.38/hr
Physician Assistant$109,110$52.46/hr
Electrical Power-Line Installer$106,960$51.42/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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR is $47,440 a year ($22.81/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR?

The median annual wage is $47,440 ($22.81 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $38,340 and $60,250. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR after taxes?

On the median wage of $47,440, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $38,983 a year ($3,249 a month) after $8,457 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 17.83%, using 2026 tax rules.