SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (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 + WI
COL Index: 100.48 (+0.5% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 75.6% Realized
$44,900 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $59,390 $28.55/hr
Effective Tax Drag 18.4% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$10,926 $420.25/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 $28.55 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,563/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$428/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$4,519
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,682
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$861
Wisconsin Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,864
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$44,900 ($1,726.93 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $59,390
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $48.2k 25th $50.5k Median: $59,390 50th (Median) $59.4k 75th $63.0k 90th $72.4k You: $59,390
10th (Entry) $48,190 $23.17/hr
25th (Junior) $50,520 $24.29/hr
50th (Median) $59,390 $28.55/hr
75th (Senior) $63,010 $30.29/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $72,370 $34.79/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$43,313$20.82/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$51,711$24.86/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$59,445$28.58/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$69,611$33.47/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$85,632$41.17/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
28% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,060/month Requires minimum annual gross of $42,400
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,263/month Requires minimum annual gross of $50,520
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.22/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $22.33/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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.

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$59,390-$10,926$44,900$1,726.93
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$70,526-$13,597$52,697$2,026.80
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$81,661-$17,353$59,409$2,284.96
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$92,797-$21,129$66,100$2,542.32
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$103,933-$24,905$72,792$2,799.68
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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$59,390/yr
$28.55/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
18.4% Effective
-$10,926 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
28% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$2,682/mo
Post-$1,060/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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI report a median annual wage of $59,390, 10.5% above the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $48,190 to $72,370, and HUD’s $1,060 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 21.4% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.22 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+44.5%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+36.6%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+35.1%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+31.6%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+26.4%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+24.6%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+22.8%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+20.8%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+13.3%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+11.8%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$216,240$103.96/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$161,220$77.51/hr
Financial Manager$156,100$75.05/hr
Data Engineer$148,020$71.16/hr
Advertising and Promotions Managers$144,960$69.69/hr
Sales Managers$144,560$69.50/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$143,570$69.02/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$140,170$67.39/hr
Human Resources Managers$136,530$65.64/hr
Physician Assistant$135,040$64.92/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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $59,390 a year ($28.55/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

The median annual wage is $59,390 ($28.55 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $48,190 and $72,370. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI after taxes?

On the median wage of $59,390, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $47,860 a year ($3,988 a month) after $11,530 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 19.41%, using 2026 tax rules.