What is the best state to be a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Alaska is the best state for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers: a BLS median of $80,840 is worth $78,977 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 102.4), an index of 140.1 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Alaska has the highest headline BLS median for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers at $80,840, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 140.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary goes furthest in Alaska — a $80,840 BLS median worth $78,977 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 140.1).

Which US states are best for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers after cost of living and tax?

For a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Alaska #1: a $80,840 BLS median becomes $78,977 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 140.1). Rhode Island ranks last ($48,185, index 85.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Alaska ranks #1 of 51 states for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. Index 100 = the average state; 140.1 means pay goes 40.1% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

140.1

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Alaska	$80,840	—	102.4	$78,977	140.1
2	North Dakota	$62,000	—	89.0	$69,695	123.6
3	Louisiana	$62,250	$1,493	88.2	$68,881	122.2
4	Wyoming	$63,820	—	92.7	$68,852	122.1
5	Hawaii	$79,000	$4,474	110.0	$67,781	120.2
6	New Mexico	$59,840	$1,698	92.2	$63,052	111.9
7	Nevada	$61,520	—	100.0	$61,533	109.2
8	Maine	$62,220	$2,585	97.0	$61,448	109.0
9	Connecticut	$64,880	$1,995	103.6	$60,694	107.7
10	Vermont	$60,890	$1,637	98.0	$60,488	107.3
11	Iowa	$55,090	$2,053	87.8	$60,432	107.2
12	Wisconsin	$58,410	$1,944	94.1	$60,010	106.5
13	New Hampshire	$62,360	—	104.2	$59,867	106.2
14	Washington	$63,020	—	107.0	$58,890	104.5
15	Minnesota	$60,280	$2,610	98.6	$58,476	103.7
16	Mississippi	$51,100	$1,443	87.0	$57,108	101.3
17	Montana	$55,610	$2,143	94.6	$56,492	100.2
18	Massachusetts	$62,570	$2,909	105.8	$56,414	100.1
19	Utah	$58,380	$2,656	98.9	$56,364	100.0
20	Nebraska	$52,220	$1,619	90.1	$56,159	99.6
21	Virginia	$59,180	$2,603	101.1	$55,959	99.3
22	South Dakota	$49,440	—	88.6	$55,810	99.0
23	Missouri	$51,950	$1,561	90.8	$55,484	98.4
24	Maryland	$60,310	$2,532	105.0	$55,048	97.7
25	Colorado	$58,590	$1,918	103.1	$54,994	97.6
26	Texas	$53,340	—	97.1	$54,957	97.5
27	Kentucky	$51,470	$1,928	90.2	$54,950	97.5
28	Delaware	$57,270	$2,502	99.8	$54,874	97.3
29	Oklahoma	$49,720	$1,824	87.8	$54,524	96.7
30	Arizona	$55,600	$915	100.7	$54,317	96.4
31	Ohio	$50,340	$602	92.8	$53,612	95.1
32	Arkansas	$47,970	$1,662	86.9	$53,266	94.5
33	Oregon	$59,450	$4,398	103.4	$53,262	94.5
34	New Jersey	$59,440	$1,736	108.8	$53,034	94.1
35	West Virginia	$48,810	$1,468	89.5	$52,898	93.8
36	Kansas	$49,410	$1,957	90.1	$52,685	93.5
37	Pennsylvania	$52,900	$1,624	97.6	$52,552	93.2
38	District of Columbia	$60,180	$2,537	109.9	$52,450	93.0
39	New York	$59,140	$2,648	107.9	$52,346	92.9
40	Tennessee	$48,040	—	91.9	$52,291	92.8
41	Alabama	$48,490	$2,160	88.8	$52,160	92.5
42	North Carolina	$50,590	$1,608	94.3	$51,928	92.1
43	South Carolina	$49,980	$1,491	93.7	$51,722	91.8
44	Indiana	$49,730	$1,462	93.3	$51,718	91.7
45	Idaho	$50,530	$1,757	95.5	$51,074	90.6
46	California	$58,060	$1,580	110.7	$51,012	90.5
47	Michigan	$49,990	$1,878	96.2	$50,004	88.7
48	Florida	$50,640	—	103.4	$48,968	86.9
49	Illinois	$51,320	$2,399	100.0	$48,941	86.8
50	Georgia	$48,430	$1,964	96.3	$48,255	85.6
51	Rhode Island	$50,580	$1,297	102.3	$48,185	85.5

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Alaska, a $80,840 salary is worth about $78,977 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $80,840 · BEA cost of living 102.4 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $91,256, a $12,279 gain over Alaska.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$91,256	88.6
2	Arkansas	$89,360	86.9
3	Louisiana	$88,899	88.2
4	Mississippi	$88,879	87.0
5	Iowa	$88,612	87.8
6	North Dakota	$88,601	89.0
7	Tennessee	$87,994	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$87,657	87.8
9	Wyoming	$87,215	92.7
10	Alabama	$86,462	88.8
11	Kentucky	$86,077	90.2
12	West Virginia	$85,973	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Alaska is the best state for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers: a BLS median of $80,840 is worth $78,977 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 102.4), an index of 140.1 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Alaska has the highest headline BLS median for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers at $80,840, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 140.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers salary go least far?: Rhode Island ranks last of 51 states for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers: a $50,580 BLS median is worth only $48,185 after tax and cost of living (index 85.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.