SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Waterbury-Shelton, CT (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 + CT
COL Index: 114.35 (+14.3% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 75.8% Realized
$39,968 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $52,710 $25.34/hr
Effective Tax Drag 18.17% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$9,580 $368.45/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 $25.34 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,163/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$380/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,766
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,268
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$764
Connecticut Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,782
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$39,968 ($1,537.22 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Waterbury-Shelton, CT Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $52,710
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $37.4k 25th $45.0k Median: $52,710 50th (Median) $52.7k 75th $64.3k 90th $78.1k You: $52,710
10th (Entry) $37,360 $17.96/hr
25th (Junior) $44,990 $21.63/hr
50th (Median) $52,710 $25.34/hr
75th (Senior) $64,270 $30.90/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $78,090 $37.54/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Waterbury-Shelton, CT
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$38,442$18.48/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$45,894$22.06/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$52,759$25.36/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$61,781$29.70/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$76,000$36.54/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Waterbury-Shelton, CT 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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
40% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,336/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,440
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,745/month Requires minimum annual gross of $69,800
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $25.29/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $26.91/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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT.

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$52,710-$9,580$39,968$1,537.22
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$62,593-$11,929$46,909$1,804.18
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$72,476-$14,775$53,353$2,052.04
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$82,359-$18,135$59,282$2,280.09
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$92,243-$21,496$65,212$2,508.14
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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$52,710/yr
$25.34/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
18.17% Effective
-$9,580 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
40% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$1,995/mo
Post-$1,336/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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Waterbury-Shelton, CT report a median annual wage of $52,710, 1.9% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $37,360 to $78,090, and HUD’s $1,336 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 30.4% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $25.29 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+62.8%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+53.9%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+52.2%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+48.3%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+42.4%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+40.4%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+38.3%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+36.1%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+27.6%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+26.0%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Waterbury-Shelton, CT

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$248,810$119.62/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$169,760$81.62/hr
Financial Manager$167,320$80.44/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$166,430$80.01/hr
Data Engineer$160,480$77.15/hr
Sales Managers$158,500$76.20/hr
Marketing Managers$151,740$72.95/hr
Human Resources Managers$151,580$72.88/hr
Public Relations Managers$149,990$72.11/hr
Actuary$143,430$68.96/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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Waterbury-Shelton, CT is $52,710 a year ($25.34/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Waterbury-Shelton, CT 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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT?

The median annual wage is $52,710 ($25.34 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $37,360 and $78,090. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Waterbury-Shelton, CT after taxes?

On the median wage of $52,710, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $42,598 a year ($3,550 a month) after $10,112 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 19.18%, using 2026 tax rules.