SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Longview-Kelso, WA (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 + WA
COL Index: 100.07 (+0.1% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 78.7% Realized
$47,117 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $59,860 $28.78/hr
Effective Tax Drag 15.29% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$9,152 $351.98/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 $28.78 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,592/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$431/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,572
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,711
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$868
Washington Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$0
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$47,117 ($1,812.19 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Longview-Kelso, WA Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $59,860
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $46.4k 25th $49.4k Median: $59,860 50th (Median) $59.9k 75th $67.6k 90th $76.6k You: $59,860
10th (Entry) $46,440 $22.33/hr
25th (Junior) $49,390 $23.75/hr
50th (Median) $59,860 $28.78/hr
75th (Senior) $67,640 $32.52/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $76,600 $36.83/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Longview-Kelso, WA
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$43,656$20.99/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$52,120$25.06/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$59,916$28.81/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$70,161$33.73/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$86,310$41.50/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Longview-Kelso, WA 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 Longview-Kelso, WA 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) $1,124/month Requires minimum annual gross of $44,960
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,398/month Requires minimum annual gross of $55,920
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.13/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $22.26/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 Longview-Kelso, WA.

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$59,860-$9,152$47,117$1,812.19
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$71,084-$11,308$55,511$2,135.03
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$82,308-$14,488$62,881$2,418.51
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$93,531-$17,667$70,252$2,702.00
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$104,755-$20,847$77,623$2,985.48
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 Longview-Kelso, WA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$59,860/yr
$28.78/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
15.29% Effective
-$9,152 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
29% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,802/mo
Post-$1,124/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 Longview-Kelso, WA: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Longview-Kelso, WA report a median annual wage of $59,860, 11.4% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $46,440 to $76,600, and HUD’s $1,124 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 22.5% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.13 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+43.3%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+35.5%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+34.0%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+30.6%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+25.4%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+23.6%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+21.8%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+19.8%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+12.4%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+11.0%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Longview-Kelso, WA

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Sales Managers$172,930$83.14/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$171,190$82.30/hr
Industrial Production Managers$163,970$78.83/hr
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$162,170$77.97/hr
Financial Manager$158,880$76.38/hr
Construction Managers$154,300$74.18/hr
Nurse Practitioner$148,960$71.62/hr
Human Resources Managers$137,230$65.98/hr
Medical and Health Services Managers$134,790$64.80/hr
Software Engineer$130,000$62.50/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 Longview-Kelso, WA (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Longview-Kelso, WA is $59,860 a year ($28.78/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Longview-Kelso, WA 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 Longview-Kelso, WA?

The median annual wage is $59,860 ($28.78 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $46,440 and $76,600. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Longview-Kelso, WA after taxes?

On the median wage of $59,860, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $50,278 a year ($4,190 a month) after $9,582 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 16.01%, using 2026 tax rules.