Salary guide, May 2025
Lead Welder pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC was $56,940 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $47,190 and $60,980.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $3,190 above the national median of $53,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Lead Welder is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
What should you know about raleigh-Cary, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,460 | $47,190 | $56,940 | $60,980 | $71,800 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19.45 | $22.69 | $27.37 | $29.32 | $34.52 |
BLS estimated 1,090 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 0.55.
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 Lead Welder median is $56,940. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 1.10 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.55 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 | $47,400 | $54,080 | $63,920 |
| May 2025 | $47,190 | $56,940 | $60,980 |
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, Raleigh-Cary, NC. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro, NC | $48,320 | $39,420 to $52,370 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $49,600 | $46,790 to $59,320 |