Welders, Cutters & Solderers salary in Richmond, VA
Median pay for welders, cutters & solderers in Richmond, VA: $51,160/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $38,430 – $71,910 · about 1,120 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($48,615) by +$2,545 (+5%).
What it's really worth in Richmond
With Richmond's cost of living at 98 (US=100), that $51,160 has the buying power of about $52,025 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $80,877 · median home $397,705 · median rent $1,763/mo.
How Richmond ranks for this job
On raw pay, Richmond, VA is 51st of the 186 metros we hold welders, cutters & solderers wages for. Once Richmond's cost of living is applied, it ranks 78th.
The headline number flatters Richmond. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, welders, cutters & solderers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Richmond
A median home in Richmond, VA costs $397,705 — about 7.8× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,763/mo works out at 41% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where welders, cutters & solderers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Richmond.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Richmond | Rent vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $76,540 | +50% | 1.7× |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $70,010 | +37% | 0.8× |
| Bremerton, WA | $66,310 | +30% | 1.2× |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $63,630 | +24% | 1.1× |
Same job elsewhere in VA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Richmond | Rent vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | $63,630 | +24% | 1.1× |
| Lynchburg, VA | $48,980 | −4% | 0.7× |
| Roanoke, VA | $47,130 | −8% | 0.8× |
Staying in VA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires welders, cutters & solderers around Richmond
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Dominion Energy · Energy
Other jobs in Richmond
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.