Welder Salary: Richmond, VA vs San Francisco, CA
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 San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $57,710 | $64,320▲ | -$6,610 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,600 | $56,680▲ | -$8,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,490 | $78,920▲ | -$12,430 |
| 90th Percentile | $83,920 | $99,930▲ | -$16,010 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 97.9 | 115.6 | -17.7 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $58,973▲ | $55,634 | +$3,339 |
| Total Employment | 1,260 | 1,990 | -730 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $6,610 more (median: $57,710 vs $64,320). BEA's regional price parity is 97.9 in Richmond, VA and 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $58,973 and $55,634, so Richmond, VA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $6,610 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 $55,634 for San Francisco, a difference of $3,339.
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; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 1,260 Welder jobs in the Richmond area and 1,990 in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has the higher median wage for Welders ($64,320 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 $55,634 in San Francisco, CA.
How do prices compare between Richmond, VA and San Francisco, CA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 97.9 for the Richmond, VA metropolitan area and 115.6 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 2.1% below the national level for Richmond, VA and 15.6% above the national level for San Francisco, CA.
Which city pays Welders more once local prices are counted?
Richmond, VA: at national-average prices its median Welder wage is $58,973, against $55,634 for San Francisco, CA. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.