Welder Salary: Richmond, VA vs Boston, MA
BLS reports this occupation as "Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers" (51-4121); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Welders in Richmond, VA and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $57,710 | $63,770▲ | -$6,060 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,600 | $56,250▲ | -$7,650 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,490 | $76,100▲ | -$9,610 |
| 90th Percentile | $83,920▲ | $83,430 | +$490 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 97.9 | 108.3 | -10.4 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $58,973▲ | $58,901 | +$72 |
| Total Employment | 1,260 | 2,210 | -950 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $6,060 more (median: $57,710 vs $63,770). BEA's regional price parity is 97.9 in Richmond, VA and 108.3 in Boston, MA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $58,973 and $58,901, so Richmond, VA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $6,060 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $58,973 for Richmond and $58,901 for Boston, a difference of $72.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Richmond, VA; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 1,260 Welder jobs in the Richmond area and 2,210 in the Boston area. For broader context, see our Virginia overview and the full Welder city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Welder salary higher in Richmond, VA or Boston, MA?
Boston, MA has the higher median wage for Welders ($63,770 per year, against $57,710 in Richmond, VA; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $58,973 in Richmond, VA and $58,901 in Boston, MA.
How do prices compare between Richmond, VA and Boston, MA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 97.9 for the Richmond, VA metropolitan area and 108.3 for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 2.1% below the national level for Richmond, VA and 8.3% above the national level for Boston, MA.
Which city pays Welders more once local prices are counted?
Richmond, VA: at national-average prices its median Welder wage is $58,973, against $58,901 for Boston, MA. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.