Welder Salary in Denver, CO: 2026
Welder salary data for Denver, CO, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Welder salary in Denver, CO is $58,890 per year ($4,908/month, $28.31/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area, which covers Denver. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 118) would have estimated $63,425; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121), Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Welder Take-Home Pay in Denver
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $58,890 |
| Federal Tax | -$4,887 |
| State Tax (3.2% eff.) | -$1,883 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$4,505 |
| Annual Take-Home | $47,615 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $3,968 |
Living Cost Comparison
Welder Requirements
Key Skills
Denver Job Market Overview
Denver, Colorado has a population of 715,522 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Technology, Energy, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 2.5%, and the average commute time is 27minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Trades Salaries in Denver
Welder Salary in Nearby Colorado Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Welder in Denver
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Welder in Denver, CO, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $39,200 | $19/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $49,045 | $24/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $58,890 | $28/hr | Mid-career, 1-3 years |
| 75th | $80,900 | $39/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $98,200 | $47/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Denver's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 12.0% salary growth for Welders over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Denver estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Welder can expect a 15.6% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 5 years in Denver. Negotiation, certifications (AWS Certification, ASME Certification), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Denver vs National Average
The national median Welder salary is $53,750 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). In the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro, the BLS median of $58,890 is 9.6% above the national figure. Denver's cost of living index is 118 (higher than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Welders, this means: rent typically consumes 46.6% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Denver costs about 11.6× annual take-home. Homeownership in Denver on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Technology in Denver
Denver's economy is anchored by Technology, Energy, Healthcare, with 715,522 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Welders can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 2.0% growth outlook for Welder roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Welder salaries in Denver, CO:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Denver-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($63,425 modeled) using the Denver index of 118 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), CO 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 4.4%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Denver QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Denver figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Welder salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Denver), specific skill set (MIG Welding, TIG Welding, Blueprint Reading), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Welder salary in Denver, CO?
How much does a Welder take home in Denver after taxes?
Is Denver a good city for Welders?
What skills are needed for a Welder in Denver?
How does Welder salary in Denver compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Welder salary in Denver, CO?
The median Welder salary in Denver, CO is $58,890 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $39,200 and the senior estimate of $80,900 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Welder take home in Denver after taxes?
A Welder earning the median salary of $58,890 in Denver, CO takes home approximately $47,615 per year ($3,968/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 19.1%.
Is Denver a good city for Welders?
Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 118 (above national average). Welders here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Technology, Energy, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Welder in Denver?
Key skills for Welders include MIG Welding, TIG Welding, Blueprint Reading, Metal Fabrication, Safety. Typical education requirement is Trade School Certificate. Valuable certifications include AWS Certification, ASME Certification, OSHA 10.
How does Welder salary in Denver compare to the national average?
The national median for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers is $53,750 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro, the BLS median is $58,890, which is 9.6% higher than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 118) would have estimated $63,425.