Salary guide, May 2025
Production Welder (MIG) pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was $61,680 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $52,790 and $75,930.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median is $7,930 above the national median of $53,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Production Welder (MIG) 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 new York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44,890 | $52,790 | $61,680 | $75,930 | $95,920 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.58 | $25.38 | $29.66 | $36.50 | $46.12 |
BLS estimated 5,780 workers employed in this occupation in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Location quotient: 0.23.
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 Production Welder (MIG) median is $61,680. The all-occupations median in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $61,430. Ratio: 1.00 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.23 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 | $51,270 | $60,840 | $76,270 |
| May 2025 | $52,790 | $61,680 | $75,930 |
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, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $63,440 | $48,580 to $79,980 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $54,640 | $47,700 to $66,670 |
National page · Production Welder (MIG) ranked across metros
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, the current median annual salary for a Production Welder (MIG) is $61,680. This represents an increase of $840 from the previous May 2024 median. The middle-band width for this role stands at $23,140, capturing the range between the P25 of $52,790 and the P75 of $75,930.
Hiring managers should note that this role operates under the broader SOC 51-4121 classification. Consequently, BLS data does not differentiate by specific plant-level processes, such as GMAW or FCAW, or seniority levels, despite the technical requirements for reading symbols or passing company weld tests.
When assessing these figures, managers should compare the local median with the U.S. national median of $53,750. The local median is higher than the national median. The national middle-band width is $16,220. National industry-specific wages for this occupation are $99,570 in Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $76,240 in Chemical Manufacturing. Note that BLS data excludes fringe benefits, shift differentials, and performance bonuses, which are common pay components in manufacturing. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that these variables often differentiate competitive offer packages from baseline reported figures.
Regional comparison metros show differing pay profiles. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT area reports a median of $63,440, while Trenton-Princeton, NJ reports a median of $54,640. The New York metro’s employment for this role is 5,780 with a location quotient of 0.23, indicating the relative concentration of these professionals in the region. Candidates screening for these positions typically demonstrate AWS D1.1 proficiency or pass site-specific weld tests. These metrics provide a baseline for setting total compensation, provided that managers account for the specific skill sets defined by SOC 51-4121 rather than treating these broad occupation codes as highly granular indicators of specialized plant performance.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the local median compare to national benchmarks?
The local median of $61,680 is higher than the national median of $53,750. This variance highlights that labor costs for this occupation in the New York metro exceed the general U.S. average.
What is the primary limitation of the provided salary data?
The BLS data is provided under the broader SOC 51-4121 occupation code, which aggregates all welders regardless of specific plant duties or weld processes. It does not isolate specialized MIG production roles or internal seniority structures.
Does the wage data include common manufacturing incentives?
No, the reported figures exclude components like shift differentials, bonuses, and comprehensive fringe benefits. These elements often constitute significant portions of the total compensation package in manufacturing environments.
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