Salary guide, May 2025
Foundry Molder / Melt Operator pay in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in Fort Smith, AR-OK was $46,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,030 and $50,170.
The Fort Smith, AR-OK median is $7,120 below the national median of $53,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
The Foundry Molder / Melt Operator title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
What should you know about fort Smith, AR-OK?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,900 | $40,030 | $46,630 | $50,170 | $58,140 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.74 | $19.24 | $22.42 | $24.12 | $27.95 |
BLS estimated 400 workers employed in this occupation in Fort Smith, AR-OK. Location quotient: 1.56.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.87 | $22.50 | $25.84 | $30.29 | $37.28 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Foundry Molder / Melt Operator median is $46,630. The all-occupations median in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $39,560. Ratio: 1.18 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.56 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $39,780 | $45,450 | $48,740 |
| May 2025 | $40,030 | $46,630 | $50,170 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, Fort Smith, AR-OK. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $47,740 | $39,890 to $53,680 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $46,400 | $37,610 to $48,040 |
All roles in Fort Smith, AR-OK · National page · Foundry Molder / Melt Operator ranked across metros