Welders, Cutters & Solderers salary in Seattle, WA
Median pay for welders, cutters & solderers in Seattle, WA: $62,710/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $47,620 – $81,420 · about 3,320 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($48,615) by +$14,095 (+29%).
What it's really worth in Seattle
With Seattle's cost of living at 113 (US=100), that $62,710 has the buying power of about $55,628 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $107,206 · median home $750,279 · median rent $2,232/mo.
How Seattle ranks for this job
On raw pay, Seattle, WA is 7th of the 186 metros we hold welders, cutters & solderers wages for. Once Seattle's cost of living is applied, it ranks 27th.
The headline number flatters Seattle. 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 Seattle
A median home in Seattle, WA costs $750,279 — about 12× 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 $2,232/mo works out at 43% 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 Seattle.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Seattle | Rent vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $76,540 | +22% | 1.3× |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $70,010 | +12% | 0.6× |
| Bremerton, WA | $66,310 | +6% | 0.9× |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $63,630 | +1% | 0.8× |
Same job elsewhere in WA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Seattle | Rent vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | $66,310 | +6% | 0.9× |
| Kennewick, WA | $58,840 | −6% | 0.8× |
| Olympia, WA | $56,110 | −11% | 0.9× |
| Spokane, WA | $53,750 | −14% | 0.7× |
Staying in WA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires welders, cutters & solderers around Seattle
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Boeing · Aerospace/Defense
Other jobs in Seattle
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.