Welder Salary in Colorado (2026)
Average Welder pay in Colorado
$60,410/year
≈ $29/hour before tax
After tax (single filer)
$48,770/year
$4,064/month · effective tax rate 19.27%
- Federal $5,069
- State $1,950
- FICA $4,621
- Take-home
Pay by role in Colorado
- Apprentice / Entry WelderBLS · 10th–25th percentile$44,100–$47,860
- Welder (any sector)BLS · middle 50%$47,860–$69,540
- Senior / Certified WelderBLS · 75th–90th percentile$69,540–$79,700
- Welding Inspector (CWI)BLS · middle 50%$48,210–$70,850
See the full tax breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $48,770 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $4,064 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $1,876 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $23/hr |
Federal Tax | $5,069 |
State Tax | $1,950 |
FICA Taxes | $4,621 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 19.27% |
Colorado welder comp anchors at $58-85K mid-career across heavy industrial + aerospace manufacturing (Lockheed Martin Aerospace Littleton, Ball Aerospace Boulder, Vestas Wind Systems Pueblo + Brighton, Suncor Refinery Commerce City), federal-research labs (NREL Golden, NIST Boulder), aerospace fabrication (Sierra Nevada Corporation Centennial), Vail / Aspen / Steamboat construction + ski-resort lift maintenance, plus pipefitting + structural steel. IBEW + Iron Workers Local 24 Denver + Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208 Denver + Boilermakers Local 101 Denver provide union infrastructure. Senior journeyman + foreman tier reaches $88-118K with regular OT; master / certified specialty welder runs $115-165K. Add 25-35% in regular OT — the $20-38K supplemental layer that drives the OBBBA federal deduction. The IIJA + IRA infrastructure cycle (Vestas wind turbine production + DIA airport expansion + RTD light rail + DOE NREL renewable energy fabrication + Front Range water infrastructure) makes CO one of the deepest US Mountain West manufacturing welder markets through 2030.
Not all Welders earn the same — not even close
CO welding work splits across heavy industrial / aerospace manufacturing (Lockheed Martin Space Systems Littleton, Ball Aerospace Boulder, Sierra Nevada Corporation Centennial, Vestas Wind Systems Pueblo + Brighton, Suncor Refinery Commerce City), structural steel + ironwork (Iron Workers Local 24 Denver, Local 27 Salt Lake-CO border), pipefitting + plumbers (Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208 Denver), boilermakers (Boilermakers Local 101 Denver), federal-research labs (NREL Golden, NIST Boulder, USGS Lakewood), commercial general contractors (PCL Construction, Mortenson, Hensel Phelps), specialty (TIG / pipe / underwater / rig / cleanroom), residential service, mountain-town construction + ski-resort lift maintenance (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat, Breckenridge), and emerging EV battery + green-hydrogen build-out (Vestas Pueblo + various DOE-funded sites). CO Department of Regulatory Agencies licenses electrical contractors; welders licensed via shop / employer credentials + AWS certifications.
Apprentice / Entry Welder
$44,100–$47,860
Front Range Community College welding + Iron Workers Local 24 / Plumbers Local 208 JATC · 5-year apprenticeship
Source: BLS May 2025 · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · Colorado · 10th–25th percentile
Welder (any sector)
$47,860–$69,540
Lockheed Martin Aerospace + Ball Aerospace + Vestas + Suncor + Sierra Nevada Corp · AWS certification base
Source: BLS May 2025 · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · Colorado · middle 50%
Senior / Certified Welder
$69,540–$79,700
7-12 yr · AWS structural certs · OT-heavy · aerospace + Vestas wind turbine premium
Source: BLS May 2025 · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · Colorado · 75th–90th percentile
Welding Inspector (CWI)
$48,210–$70,850
AWS Certified Welding Inspector · QA / QC at Lockheed / Ball / Vestas / Suncor
Source: BLS May 2025 · Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers · Colorado · middle 50%
Worth knowing: Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Littleton, ~9,500 employees) is the largest CO aerospace manufacturer — produces space systems (Orion crew capsule, GPS satellites, Mars exploration vehicles) with substantial AWS-certified + AS9100 aerospace welder employment. Ball Aerospace (Boulder, ~5,000 CO employees, owned by BAE Systems since 2024) operates aerospace + space-systems fabrication. Sierra Nevada Corporation (Centennial, plus Sparks NV HQ) operates Dream Chaser spaceplane + military / commercial aerospace fabrication. Vestas Wind Systems (Pueblo + Brighton + Windsor, ~3,500 CO employees) operates the largest US wind turbine manufacturing footprint — substantial pipe + structural welder employment. Suncor Refinery (Commerce City, ~600 employees) is the only CO refinery and operates substantial pipefitter + boilermaker work. NREL Golden (DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory) + NIST Boulder + USGS Lakewood add federal-research welder employment. The IIJA + IRA infrastructure cycle drove substantial CO infrastructure work expansion 2024-2027 — particularly DIA airport gates expansion, RTD light rail extensions, Front Range water infrastructure, and Vestas wind turbine production scaling.
OBBBA overtime, IBEW pension, and the flat-4.40% CO state retirement-favorable math
$12,500
OBBBA single OT premium federal deduction cap (tax years 2025-2028)
$25,000
OBBBA MFJ OT premium federal deduction cap
0%
CO estate (since 2005) + CO inheritance · favorable welder retirement
4.40%
CO flat state · no local · vs MD 8.95% combined · between AZ 2.5% and MA 5%
$108-165K
Specialty welder (TIG / aerospace / cleanroom) · Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace / Vestas wind premium
Welder OT is structural to the comp model in CO heavy industrial + aerospace manufacturing. Lockheed Martin Aerospace + Ball Aerospace + Sierra Nevada Corp + Vestas Wind production schedules routinely run 50-60 hr/week during ramp + delivery cycles; Suncor refinery turnarounds run 60-80 hr/week with substantial pipe welder volume. Mountain-town construction + ski-resort lift maintenance (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Breckenridge) run 50-60 hr/week peak season May-October (off-season for ski-tourism = on-season for construction). Total OT typically 400-700 hrs/year for mid-career certified welder = supplemental $18-32K. Pushes mid-career welder total comp from $72K base to $90-115K all-in.
The 2025 law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) created a federal-only deduction on the premium portion of overtime pay for tax years 2025-2028 — up to $12,500 single / $25,000 . Premium portion equals the half of time-and-a-half. For a CO welder with 500 OT hrs/year at a $35/hr regular rate ($52.50/hr at time-and-a-half), OT pays $26,250 and the premium half is $8,750 — fully qualifies for OBBBA federal deduction at single filer. Federal savings 22% bracket × $8,750 = $1,925/year federal back.
Colorado has not conformed to on overtime for 2026: it starts from federal taxable income, but HB25-1296 adds the overtime deduction back, so the whole OT paycheck stays taxable at 4.40%. For this welder that is $26,250 × 4.40% = $1,155 of CO tax on the OT — the same amount Colorado collects with or without OBBBA, so it does not shrink the $1,925 federal saving. On the $8,750 premium alone, CO takes $385; Maryland (a 4.75% bracket + a 3.20% county) would take about $696, and Arizona, which mirrors the deduction, takes nothing.
phaseout: $100/$1K over $150K single / $300K . Most CO journeyman welders ($90-115K total comp) stay below the threshold — full OBBBA deduction available. Specialty welders + pipefitters at $115-165K may approach phaseout depending on filing status. MFJ filers with high-earner spouse most exposed.
Real numbers for a CO journeyman welder at $32/hr × 2,080 base hrs = $66,560 base + $14K OT (about 290 hrs at the $48/hr time-and-a-half rate; the premium third is about $4,700) + $5K AWS D1.1 cert premium = $86K total. CO state tax = 4.40% on $69,900 after the $16,100 federal deduction = $3,076/year. federal OT deduction $4,700 × 22% = $1,034 federal back. Compared to MD: about $5,510 at the 2.25% county floor, $6,260 in a 3.20% county. CO saves about $3,190/year vs a 3.20% MD county. Compared to AZ (2.5%, and Arizona subtracts the OT premium): AZ about $1,630. AZ saves about $1,445/year vs CO. Compared to TN (0%): TN saves $3,076/year. The Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace + Vestas wind + Front Range outdoor lifestyle density unavailable in TN.
Union pension stacking is the dominant late-career lever for trades welders. Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208 (Denver) provides multi-employer DB pension + Annuity Fund (DC) — combined typically $4,500-6,500/month at age 65 with 30 years' service ($54-78K/year). Iron Workers Local 24 (Denver) similar structure. Boilermakers Local 101 similar. Non-union manufacturing welders rely on employer at $24,500/year + match — Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Vestas, Suncor all offer 6-8% match plus pension or depending on role.
Most CO welders retire in-state — CO's 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% on retirement income + low 0.55% effective property tax + Front Range outdoor lifestyle (skiing, hiking, mountain access) makes the late-career math favorable. Pre-distribution relocation to FL / TN / NV is rare for CO welders compared to MA / MD peers. Common in-state retirement: stay in Denver suburbs / Boulder / Fort Collins, or migrate to mountain-town downvalley (Glenwood Springs, Steamboat-area) or southern CO (Pueblo, Grand Junction) for retirement lifestyle.
Colorado for welders — the honest take
CO welding work clusters along the Front Range I-25 corridor + I-70 mountain corridor. The Denver metro corridor (Lockheed Martin Space Systems Littleton + Ball Aerospace Boulder + Sierra Nevada Corporation Centennial + Suncor Refinery Commerce City + DIA airport + RTD rail infrastructure + Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208 + Iron Workers Local 24 + Boilermakers Local 101) houses the densest unionized welder market. The Boulder / NREL Golden / NIST Boulder corridor anchors federal-research + tech welder density. The Pueblo / Brighton corridor (Vestas Wind Systems wind turbine manufacturing) anchors south + east Front Range. The Fort Collins corridor (Woodward Inc, plus regional manufacturing) anchors north Front Range. Mountain-town construction + ski-resort lift maintenance (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Breckenridge) provides seasonal premium work May-October.
Housing on a journeyman welder + OT income tier ($88-115K total comp): Denver outer (Aurora outer, Westminster, Thornton, Federal Heights) $375-525K · Aurora outer / Centennial $400-625K · Castle Rock / Parker (Douglas County) $475-700K · Boulder outer (Lafayette, Louisville, Erie) $525-800K · Fort Collins (Larimer) $475-700K · Pueblo (Pueblo County) $250-425K · Colorado Springs (El Paso) $375-575K. Mountain-town housing extreme premium ($750K-$5M+ in Aspen / Vail / Steamboat) — most mountain-town welders in downvalley (Eagle / Glenwood Springs / Avon) or employer-stipend housing.
Most CO welders retire in-state on union pension (Local 208 / Local 24 / Local 101) or non-union accumulation. CO's 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement tax structure + Front Range outdoor lifestyle is materially favorable. Common in-state retirement: stay in Denver suburbs / Boulder / Fort Collins for grandkid proximity, or migrate to Pueblo / Grand Junction / mountain-town downvalley for outdoor lifestyle + lower COL.
How Colorado taxes work for welders (and where the levers are)
CO charges flat 4.40% state income tax (since 2022). No local income tax statewide. For a journeyman welder at $86K total: CO = 4.40% on $69,900 after the $16,100 federal deduction = $3,076/year. Same comp in MD: about $5,510 at the 2.25% county floor, $6,260 in a 3.20% county. CO saves about $3,190/year vs a 3.20% MD county at journeyman tier. Compared to AZ (2.5%, and Arizona subtracts the OT premium): AZ about $1,630. AZ saves about $1,445/year vs CO. Compared to TN (0%): TN saves $3,076/year. The Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace / Vestas wind density unavailable in TN.
federal OT deduction (2025-2028) is the active-duty lever. $12,500 single / $25,000 cap on premium portion. For most CO welder comp tiers ($88-148K), full OBBBA deduction available — saves about $1,030-1,930/year federal; Colorado taxes the OT either way.
Union pension stacking (Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208, Iron Workers Local 24, Boilermakers Local 101) is the dominant late-career lever for unionized welders. Multi-employer DB pension accruing hourly + Annuity Fund (DC) rolled-over-able at retirement. Plus union at $24,500/year + match. Pre-tax shelter at journeyman comp tier is $24,500 (401k) + ~$3-5/hr employer-contribution annuity (~$6-10K/year) = $30-35K/year combined federal pre-tax. Saves $9-11K/year combined federal + 4.40% CO at top marginal. Non-union manufacturing welders (Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Vestas, Suncor) rely on 401(k) + 6-8% match + pension or .
CO retirement-state tax favorability is the dominant late-career lever for senior welders. 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% state on retirement income + low 0.55% effective property tax + Front Range outdoor lifestyle. A senior welder retiring in Colorado Front Range pays CO flat 4.40% on retirement income vs MA's 5% + estate cliff or MD's 8% combined. Over 30-year retirement at $60K annual pension + draws: CO ~$72K total state tax vs MA $90K + MD $144K. CO saves $18-72K vs MA / MD on retirement income tax alone, and saves $0 vs MA $2M / MD $5M estate exposure for senior welder asset bases.
- → federal OT deduction (2025-2028): $12,500 single / $25,000 on premium portion · saves about $1,030-1,930/year federal at journeyman tier
- →AWS certifications (D1.1 structural, ASME B31.1 / B31.3 pipe, AS9100 aerospace, 6G pipe) drive · $5-15/hr cert premium
- →Pursue specialty welder track (TIG / aerospace / cleanroom): $108-165K · Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace / Sierra Nevada Corp / Vestas premium
- →Pipefitter / Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208 path: union pension + Annuity Fund · $54-78K/year retirement at 30 years
- →Vestas wind turbine + DOE NREL renewable energy fabrication (2024-2027) · GMP cleanroom + green-hydrogen specialty premium
- →Mountain-town construction + ski-resort lift maintenance (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat) · $72-118K + housing stipend · seasonal premium May-October
- →Max at $24,500/year + employer match (6-8% at Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace / Vestas / Suncor) · saves $9-11K/year combined fed + CO
- →Stay in CO for retirement: 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement income · saves $18-72K vs MA / MD over 30 years
The Colorado welder career arc — apprentice to specialty / supervisor
Years 0-3 (apprentice / entry): $36-58K. Front Range Community College welding program, Pikes Peak Community College welding (Colorado Springs), or Trinidad State Junior College welding + OJT. Starting at manufacturing shop floor (Lockheed Martin Aerospace, Ball Aerospace, Vestas Wind, Sierra Nevada Corp, Suncor) or union apprenticeship (Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208, Iron Workers Local 24, Boilermakers Local 101 — typically 5-year programs). AWS Certified Welder cert at $20-30/hr. Decision point at year 3: union path (Local 208 / 24 / 101 with multi-employer pension) vs non-union manufacturing (Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace / Vestas / Sierra Nevada Corp with + match) vs specialty welder track (TIG / aerospace / cleanroom training).
Years 3-12 (journeyman / certified welder / specialty): $58-115K total comp. Manufacturing journeyman scale $58-78K base + 400-700 OT hrs/year drives total comp $78-105K. Certified pipe welder (ASME B31.1 / B31.3 / 6G) with Plumbers Local 208 reaches $85-125K base + premium OT. Aerospace welder at Lockheed Martin / Ball Aerospace / Sierra Nevada Corp + AS9100 cert reaches $108-165K total. Vestas wind turbine welder + GMP cleanroom $95-135K. Maxing + (where available at corporate) is the active-duty stack. federal OT deduction on premium portion.
Years 12-30+ (senior welder / supervisor / specialty / retirement): $85-165K depending on track. Welding foreman / supervisor at $85-125K running multi-crew operations. CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) at $85-125K QA/QC role. Specialty welder (TIG / aerospace / cleanroom / ski-resort) at $108-165K with uncapped OT. Year 30 union retirement decision: full DB pension (typically $54-78K/year at 30 years' Local 208 / 24 / 101 service) + Annuity Fund rollover. Most CO welders retire in-state — favorable 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement structure with Front Range outdoor lifestyle.
Where Colorado welders actually live
CO welder housing tracks employer + commute. Denver-corridor welders (Lockheed Martin Littleton, Ball Aerospace Boulder, Sierra Nevada Corp Centennial, Plumbers Local 208, Iron Workers Local 24) cluster in Westminster / Thornton / Federal Heights (cheaper Denver tier), Aurora outer / Centennial, Castle Rock / Parker. Suncor Commerce City welders in Commerce City / Brighton / Westminster. Vestas Pueblo welders in Pueblo County. Boulder Ball Aerospace + NREL Golden welders in Boulder outer (Lafayette, Louisville, Erie). Mountain-town welders in downvalley communities (Eagle / Glenwood Springs / Avon for Vail-area).
Westminster / Thornton / Federal Heights (Denver outer)
$375-525K · 4.40% flat state · Denver-corridor manufacturing commute · cheapest Front Range tier
Aurora outer / Centennial (Arapahoe)
$400-625K · 4.40% flat state · Sierra Nevada Corp + Suncor + Lockheed commute
Boulder outer (Lafayette / Louisville / Erie)
$525-800K · 4.40% flat state · Ball Aerospace + NREL Golden + tech corridor
Pueblo (Pueblo County)
$250-425K · 4.40% flat state · Vestas wind turbine manufacturing · cheapest CO welder tier
Eagle / Glenwood Springs (Vail downvalley)
$425-700K · 4.40% flat state · mountain-town construction + ski-resort lift maintenance · downvalley residency
CO's aerospace + Vestas wind + Suncor + DOE NREL + IIJA infrastructure density + 0% estate retirement structure (since 2005) + Front Range outdoor lifestyle make CO one of the deepest US Mountain West manufacturing welder markets through 2030. Vestas wind turbine production + green-hydrogen + DOE NREL renewable energy fabrication is uniquely concentrated in CO among major US states.
Is this the right move?
Colorado welder — who it's best for
Working in your favor
- +Aerospace manufacturing density: Lockheed Martin Space Systems + Ball Aerospace + Sierra Nevada Corporation · AS9100 + TIG specialty premium $108-165K
- +Vestas Wind Systems Pueblo + Brighton + Windsor: largest US wind turbine manufacturing footprint · 2024-2027 IRA scaling
- +Union pension stacking (Plumbers + Pipefitters Local 208 + Iron Workers Local 24 + Boilermakers Local 101) · DB + Annuity Fund · $54-78K/year pension at 30 years
- +OBBBA federal OT deduction (2025-2028): $12,500 single / $25,000 MFJ · saves about $1,030-1,930/year federal at journeyman tier
- +CO 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement state + Front Range outdoor lifestyle · favorable retirement vs MA / MD
Worth knowing before you sign
- −CO 4.40% state higher than AZ (2.5%) at welder comp tier · about $1,445/year more than AZ at $86K (Arizona also subtracts the OT premium) · need specialty cert to offset
- −CO does not formally conform to OBBBA · OT premium fully 4.40% CO-taxable
- −Mountain-town housing extreme premium ($750K-$5M+) · most mountain-town welders in downvalley or employer stipends
- −Aerospace + Vestas wind cycles subject to project-specific scheduling · gaps between major NASA + DOD + IRA contracts
- −Suncor refinery is the only CO refinery · turnaround windows (every 4-5 years) drive concentrated pipefitter demand spikes
Sources & Methodology
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction
- →IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 retirement-plan contribution limits
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 — 2026 HSA contribution limits
- →Social Security Administration — 2026 Social Security wage base
- →DR 0104 Individual Income Tax Booklet (CO Department of Revenue)
- →BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Welder wage data for Colorado
Salary figures are market estimates for Welders in Colorado and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Colorado 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.
Run your own numbers
- Colorado paycheck calculator → · 401(k), HSA, dependents
- No Tax on Overtime calculator → · up to $12,500 off federal tax
- 1099 tax calculator → · self-employment tax 15.3%
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Compare Two States
See how income tax, take-home pay, and total tax burden differ between any two US states side by side.
State 1
State 2