Welder Salary: Washington, DC vs Austin, TX
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 Washington, DC and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $60,670▲ | $59,040 | +$1,630 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,120▲ | $47,060 | +$3,060 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,560▲ | $67,000 | +$10,560 |
| 90th Percentile | $114,440▲ | $76,060 | +$38,380 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 108.9 | 98.1 | +10.8 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $55,720 | $60,204▲ | -$4,484 |
| Total Employment | 2,000 | 2,210 | -210 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Washington, DC pays $1,630 more (median: $60,670 vs $59,040). BEA's regional price parity is 108.9 in Washington, DC and 98.1 in Austin, TX (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $55,720 and $60,204, so Austin, TX comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $1,630 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: $55,720 for Washington and $60,204 for Austin, a difference of $4,484.
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 (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 2,000 Welder jobs in the Washington area and 2,210 in the Austin area. For broader context, see our District of Columbia overview and the full Welder city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Welder salary higher in Washington, DC or Austin, TX?
Washington, DC has the higher median wage for Welders ($60,670 per year, against $59,040 in Austin, TX; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $55,720 in Washington, DC and $60,204 in Austin, TX.
How do prices compare between Washington, DC and Austin, TX?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 108.9 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area and 98.1 for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 8.9% above the national level for Washington, DC and 1.9% below the national level for Austin, TX.
Which city pays Welders more once local prices are counted?
Austin, TX: at national-average prices its median Welder wage is $60,204, against $55,720 for Washington, DC. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.