Welder Salary in Brownsville, TX: $46,816 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Brownsville, TX earns a median $46,816/year (≈ $22.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Brownsville's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.0), that paycheck buys what $54,453 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.3% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Welders in Brownsville, Texas earn a median salary of $46,816, which reflects a lower compensation compared to the national median of $55,895 for 2026. The salary range for welders in the city spans from $31,436 at the 10th percentile to as much as $79,771 at the 90th percentile, signifying a wide disparity in income based on specialization and experience. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. Within this market, pipe welding tends to command higher pay compared to structural or production roles, particularly due to the growing demand for pipeline infrastructure and maintenance across the region. Such intricacies illustrate the competitive dynamics of the welding landscape in Brownsville, TX.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,436 | $15.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37,488 | $18.02 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $46,816 | $22.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,836 | $28.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79,771 | $38.35 |
Median Salary Position
16.24% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Brownsville
In Brownsville, TX, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $48,335 (2026 est.). At $46,816, the local median is 16.24% below the national median of $55,895.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Brownsville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Brownsville Welder Pay Compares
Brownsville median: $46,816/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Brownsville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $50,503 | -7.30% less |
| National Average | $55,895 | -16.24% less |
Welders in Brownsville, TX earn a median of $46,816 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.24% lower than the national median of $55,895 and 7.30% below the Texas state average of $50,503.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Brownsville has a cost of living 14.03% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Brownsville, TX has a cost-of-living index of 85.975 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $46,816 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $54,453 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.31% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$31,530
2025 BLS Actual
$45,020
2026 Current Est.
$46,816
2019–2027 Growth
+54.4%
Salary Trajectory for Welders in Brownsville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $31,530 | Actual |
| 2020 | $37,190 | Actual |
| 2021 | $38,740 | Actual |
| 2022 | $40,410 | Actual |
| 2023 | $42,110 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,060 | Actual |
| 2025 | $45,020 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $46,816 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $48,684 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Brownsville metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 42.8% from $31,530 (2019) to $45,020 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $48,684 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,154 (54.41%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Brownsville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.99% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $31,436 – $37,488 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $37,488 – $46,816 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $46,816 – $59,836 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,836 – $79,771 |
WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Welder Job Market in Brownsville
With approximately 650 welders currently employed in the Brownsville area, the local job market exhibits moderate strength. The cost of living here is relatively low, with an index of 85.975, allowing welders to stretch their salaries further than in higher-cost regions. Employers in sectors such as oil and gas pipeline welding, petrochemical refinery turnarounds, and aerospace are known to offer higher pay, driven by the need for specific certifications, such as ASME Section IX or NQA-1 for nuclear applications. Welders who specialize in pipe welding, especially those with 6G certification, often see the highest wages. To boost earnings in the Brownsville market, welders should consider gaining experience in high-demand areas, pursuing additional certifications, and being open to traveling positions, which can provide significant per-diem benefits, often enhancing overall compensation significantly.
More salary data for Brownsville, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by James Mendoza, AWS Certified Welder
Career Analyst
James has over 10 years of experience in welding. He specializes in MIG and TIG welding. He has worked in various manufacturing settings.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $45,020 for weldersin the Brownsville metropolitan area. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.99%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for welders (SOC 51-4121).
Compiled and verified by James Mendoza, AWS Certified Welder, a licensed welder with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov