Salary guide, May 2025
Production Welder (MIG) 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.
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 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 Production Welder (MIG) 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 |
National page · Production Welder (MIG) ranked across metros
What does this data mean for your opening?
Raleigh-Cary reports a May 2025 median annual wage of $56,940 for the occupation classified under SOC 51-4121. For Production Welder (MIG) in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $56,940; the May 2024 median is $54,080. Their arithmetic difference is $2,860.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The local central band is anchored by a P25 of $47,190 and a P75 of $60,980, yielding a middle band width of $13,790. For Production Welder (MIG) in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 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.
National manufacturing industry rows for comparison show median values in sectors such as Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $99,570 and Chemical Manufacturing at $76,240. Raleigh-Cary displays a location quotient of 0.55, indicating that the occupational concentration is below the national average. Manufacturing Headhunters provides this data as a base reflection of regional earnings, noting that the BLS does not isolate plant-specific duties like MIG welding from the broad occupational definition.
Nearby markets offer additional regional perspective. The Goldsboro, NC area shows a median of $48,320 and a middle band width of $12,950. The Rocky Mount, NC area presents a median of $49,600 and a middle band width of $12,530. All values are sourced directly from the May 2025 release. Managers must recognize that the SOC 51-4121 records bundle all sub-specialties into one count, meaning variations in weld process or structural complexity are not captured in these wage amounts.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For Production Welder (MIG) in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $56,940; the May 2024 median is $54,080. Their arithmetic difference is $2,860. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
How does the Raleigh median compare with the national occupational median?
The Raleigh median of $56,940 exceeds the national occupational median of $53,750. This places local pay above the standard U.S. average.
What is the median change for Raleigh over the last year?
For Production Welder (MIG) in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $56,940; the May 2024 median is $54,080. Their arithmetic difference is $2,860. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. This shows an upward shift in local reported earnings.
Does the wage data separate out MIG welding from other tasks?
No, the SOC 51-4121 coding covers all welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers as one group. It does not distinguish between process-specific plant roles like MIG welding.
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