Welder Salary: Seattle, WA vs Denver, CO
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 Seattle, WA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $66,240▲ | $58,890 | +$7,350 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,200▲ | $47,870 | +$10,330 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,210▲ | $70,760 | +$4,450 |
| 90th Percentile | $89,630▲ | $79,700 | +$9,930 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 111.1 | 105.8 | +5.3 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $59,604▲ | $55,671 | +$3,933 |
| Total Employment | 3,230 | 1,990 | +1,240 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $7,350 more (median: $66,240 vs $58,890). BEA's regional price parity is 111.1 in Seattle, WA and 105.8 in Denver, CO (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $59,604 and $55,671, so Seattle, WA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $7,350 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: $59,604 for Seattle and $55,671 for Denver, a difference of $3,933.
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 (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 3,230 Welder jobs in the Seattle area and 1,990 in the Denver area. For broader context, see our Washington overview and the full Welder city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Welder salary higher in Seattle, WA or Denver, CO?
Seattle, WA has the higher median wage for Welders ($66,240 per year, against $58,890 in Denver, CO; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $59,604 in Seattle, WA and $55,671 in Denver, CO.
How do prices compare between Seattle, WA and Denver, CO?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 111.1 for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area and 105.8 for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 11.1% above the national level for Seattle, WA and 5.8% above the national level for Denver, CO.
Which city pays Welders more once local prices are counted?
Seattle, WA: at national-average prices its median Welder wage is $59,604, against $55,671 for Denver, CO. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.