Salary guide, May 2025
Production Welder (MIG) pay in Northern New Jersey within 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 Northern New Jersey within 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 Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median is $7,930 above the national median of $53,750, both from BLS May 2025.
BLS publishes the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, not Northern New Jersey separately.
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 northern New Jersey within 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 Northern New Jersey within 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 Northern New Jersey within 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?
Within the Northern New Jersey segment of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro, the median annual salary for a Production Welder (MIG) is $61,680. For Production Welder (MIG) in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $61,680; the May 2024 median is $60,840. Their arithmetic difference is $840.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width is $23,140, spanning the P25 of $52,790 to the P75 of $75,930. While this data covers the wider metro area, Manufacturing Headhunters notes that hiring managers must reconcile these figures with the specific requirements of the SOC 51-4121 code. The BLS does not track specific plant-based nuances such as FCAW proficiency or symbol interpretation, focusing instead on the aggregate occupational category.
The U.S. national median for this occupation is $53,750, making the local median higher. The national middle-band width is narrower at $16,220. In terms of sector-specific national data, Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing offers a median of $99,570, while Chemical Manufacturing shows $76,240. For Production Welder (MIG) in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. Because these are excluded, total offer amounts for qualified candidates often deviate from the provided median.
Regional analysis reveals that the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT area reports a median of $63,440, and the Trenton-Princeton, NJ area sits at $54,640. Northern New Jersey functions within the broader metro, which contains an employment count of 5,780 with a 0.23 location quotient. Candidates typically undergo screening through AWS D1.1 testing or company-specific assessments. When setting salary structures, managers should use these percentiles as a reference rather than a rigid limit, as they represent the broader occupation and not the specific production-specific duties found on the floor.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The P75 percentile for the Production Welder (MIG) role is $75,930. For Production Welder (MIG) in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $52,790 to $75,930 annually.
Is the Northern New Jersey median distinct from the broader New York metro data?
No, the provided data uses the broader New York-Newark-Jersey City metro figures as BLS does not separate Northern New Jersey into its own distinct statistical area. Hiring managers must use the aggregated metro values provided.
What is the P75 wage point for this role?
The P75 percentile for the Production Welder (MIG) role is $75,930. For Production Welder (MIG) in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $52,790 to $75,930 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them.
Do these figures account for specific welding certifications like AWS D1.1?
The BLS occupation code 51-4121 does not track specific credentials like AWS D1.1. These figures reflect all reported welders in the area regardless of certification or skill level.
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