SOC 51-4121

Welder Salary in Winston-Salem, NC (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 + NC
COL Index: 102.58 (+2.6% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 77.1% Realized
$35,760 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $46,370 $22.29/hr
Effective Tax Drag 16.88% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$7,828 $301.09/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 $22.29 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$2,782/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$334/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,051
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$2,875
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$672
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,230
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$35,760 ($1,375.37 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Winston-Salem, NC Welder Wage Distribution

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

Your Salary: $46,370
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $39.7k 25th $43.5k Median: $46,370 50th (Median) $46.4k 75th $62.1k 90th $73.7k You: $46,370
10th (Entry) $39,730 $19.10/hr
25th (Junior) $43,520 $20.92/hr
50th (Median) $46,370 $22.29/hr
75th (Senior) $62,140 $29.88/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $73,680 $35.42/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Welder in Winston-Salem, NC
1
Welder ApprenticeHigh school diploma or equivalent (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$33,818$16.26/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Certified WelderDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; AWS welding certification
$40,374$19.41/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Journeyman Welder (Structural / Pipe)Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team; AWS welding certification
$46,413$22.31/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Welding SupervisorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$54,350$26.13/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Welding Inspector (CWI) / Shop OwnerExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$66,859$32.14/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Winston-Salem, NC 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 Winston-Salem, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
41% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,224/month Requires minimum annual gross of $48,960
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,332/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,280
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.69/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $19.52/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 Winston-Salem, NC.

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$46,370-$7,828$35,760$1,375.37
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$55,064-$9,800$41,960$1,613.86
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$63,759-$11,772$48,161$1,852.35
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$72,453-$13,905$54,201$2,084.66
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$81,148-$16,694$59,585$2,291.72
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 Winston-Salem, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

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

Market Baseline
$46,370/yr
$22.29/hr · SOC 51-4121
Statutory Tax Drag
16.88% Effective
-$7,828 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
41% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$1,756/mo
Post-$1,224/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 Winston-Salem, NC: Market Snapshot

Welder roles in Winston-Salem, NC report a median annual wage of $46,370, 13.7% below the national median of $53,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $39,730 to $73,680, and HUD’s $1,224 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 31.7% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.69 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Welder

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Lima, OH$85,790+85.0%
Urban Honolulu, HI$81,120+74.9%
Fairbanks-College, AK$80,210+73.0%
Baton Rouge, LA$78,170+68.6%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$75,040+61.8%
Anchorage, AK$74,000+59.6%
Lake Charles, LA$72,920+57.3%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$71,720+54.7%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$67,280+45.1%
Portland-South Portland, ME$66,420+43.2%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Winston-Salem, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$273,710$131.59/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$160,900$77.36/hr
Marketing Managers$160,570$77.20/hr
Fundraising Managers$158,460$76.18/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$155,200$74.62/hr
Financial Manager$155,030$74.53/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$148,710$71.50/hr
Public Relations Managers$140,680$67.63/hr
Human Resources Managers$137,110$65.92/hr
Sales Managers$132,550$63.73/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 Winston-Salem, NC (2026) Overview

Welder median pay in Winston-Salem, NC is $46,370 a year ($22.29/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents and living wage. Official 2026 economic data for Welder in Winston-Salem, NC 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 Winston-Salem, NC?

The median annual wage is $46,370 ($22.29 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $39,730 and $73,680. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Winston-Salem, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $46,370, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $38,097 a year ($3,175 a month) after $8,273 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 17.84%, using 2026 tax rules.