How much does a Welder make in New Jersey?

BLS puts the average Welder pay in New Jersey at $62,500 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in New Jersey, after federal taxes, FICA, and New Jersey state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $50,231 annually ($4,186/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in New Jersey?

On a $62,500 salary in New Jersey, your take-home pay is approximately $50,231/year or $4,186/month. Federal tax: $5,320. State tax: $1,905. FICA: $4,781. NJ Temporary Disability: $119. NJ Family Leave Insurance: $144.

Is $62,500 a good Welder salary?

$62,500 is the BLS average Welder pay in New Jersey, 10% above the US average of $56,760 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in New Jersey earn between $49,870 and $71,060.

How do New Jersey taxes affect Welder salaries?

New Jersey levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $62,500 is $1,905. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 19.6%.

What are the career growth prospects for Welders?

In New Jersey, the top 10% earn over $81,760 and the bottom 10% under $43,290 (BLS, May 2025). 2% growth through 2032 (slower than average) overall; pipeline + Permian rig + underwater + aerospace TIG specialty growing faster. Related roles include: Pipe Welder, Structural Welder, Rig Welder, Underwater Welder, Aerospace TIG Welder, Welding Inspector, Welding Supervisor.

How can a Welder in New Jersey reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Trades

Welder Salary in New Jersey (2026)

Average Welder pay in New Jersey

$62,500/year

≈ $30/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $49,870–$71,060

US average: $56,760

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$50,231/year

$4,186/month · effective tax rate 19.63%

Federal $5,320
State $1,905
Disability / leave $263
FICA $4,781
Take-home

Pay by role in New Jersey

Senior Pharma Manufacturing Welder$98,000–$155,000 w/OT
Senior Refinery / Petrochemical Welder$105,000–$170,000 w/OT
Senior Pipefitter / Pipe Welder (UA Local)$98,000–$148,000 w/OT
Senior Pressure Vessel / Boiler Welder$95,000–$155,000 w/OT
Senior Aerospace / Defense Welder$95,000–$155,000 w/OT
Senior Structural Welder (Construction)$82,000–$120,000 w/OT

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$50,231
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,186
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$1,932
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$24/hr
Federal Tax	$5,320
State Tax	$1,905
NJ Temporary Disability	$119
NJ Family Leave Insurance	$144
FICA Taxes	$4,781
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	19.63%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Welders earn the same — not even close

New Jersey's welder market is anchored by the substantial pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster (Johnson & Johnson New Brunswick HQ, Merck Rahway HQ, Bristol-Myers Squibb Princeton + Lawrenceville, Bayer Whippany, Pfizer Peapack) plus the legacy Newark + Camden shipbuilding (now repair + Coast Guard work at Bayonne + Newark Bay) plus the substantial petrochemical refinery cluster (Phillips 66 Bayway + Bayonne, Bayway Refining). UA Local 9 Trenton + UA Local 322 Pleasantville cover central + south NJ pipefitter welding. NJ progressive income tax 1.4-10.75% with non-conformity.

Senior Pharma Manufacturing Welder

$98,000–$155,000 w/OT

J&J + Merck + BMS + Bayer + Pfizer fabrication · cGMP manufacturing welding · ASME BPE specialty premium

Senior Refinery / Petrochemical Welder

$105,000–$170,000 w/OT

Phillips 66 Bayway · Bayway Refining · refinery turnaround OT · ASME B31.3 + NACE certs

Senior Pipefitter / Pipe Welder (UA Local)

$98,000–$148,000 w/OT

Industrial process piping · pharma + petrochemical · ASME B31.3 specialty premium · UA Local 9 + 322

Senior Pressure Vessel / Boiler Welder

$95,000–$155,000 w/OT

Hospital + university boilers · PSE&G facilities · ASME Section IX certs

Senior Aerospace / Defense Welder

$95,000–$155,000 w/OT

Lockheed Martin Moorestown · L3Harris Camden · BAE Systems Aberdeen-adjacent · cleared work premium

Senior Structural Welder (Construction)

$82,000–$120,000 w/OT

Newark + Jersey City + Hoboken commercial · NJ Turnpike + Garden State Parkway bridge work · structural steel

Senior Marine / Shipbuilding Welder

$92,000–$140,000 w/OT

Bayonne + Newark Bay Coast Guard work · ferry + tug + barge fabrication · marine specialty

Welder (Mid-Level, 3-7 yrs)

$62,000–$88,000 w/OT

Functional welder at NJ commercial + industrial sites · post-cert journeyman track

Apprentice / Entry-Level Welder (0-2 yrs)

$42,000–$58,000

Lincoln Tech NJ + community college welding programs · cert in progress

Welding Inspector (CWI / AWS)

$92,000–$148,000

AWS CWI · pharma + petrochemical QC + bridge QC + NDT specialty premium

Worth knowing: New Jersey's pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster is the structural depth feature most national welder-market surveys understate. J&J New Brunswick (Fortune 100, ~135K global employees with substantial NJ manufacturing + research workforce), Merck Rahway HQ (Fortune 100, ~70K global employees, the Rahway campus is Merck's R&D + manufacturing flagship), Bristol-Myers Squibb Princeton + Lawrenceville (Fortune 100, ~30K global employees), plus Bayer Whippany, Pfizer Peapack, and Sanofi Bridgewater create one of the country's densest pharmaceutical manufacturing concentrations. Pharma manufacturing welding work requires cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) qualifications plus ASME BPE (Bioprocessing Equipment) certifications — senior pharma welders clear $98-155K w/OT plus pharma manufacturing specialty premium. The Phillips 66 Bayway refinery (~250K barrels/day capacity, one of the larger US east coast refineries) plus Bayway Refining drive substantial refinery turnaround welding demand — turnarounds (scheduled major maintenance shutdowns) occur every 4-6 years with concentrated 60-90 day welding work at substantial OT premium. The 2025 OT deduction applies through 2028 — at $25K OT premium a single filer's deduction caps at $12,500, about $2,750 at 22% (up to about $5,500 on a joint return's $25,000 cap). New Jersey adds nothing: its Division of Taxation says the deduction does not affect the NJ return. NJ's progressive 1.4-10.75% income tax structure means pre-tax deferrals shelter at both levels (NJ has excluded them since 1984) — unlike PA next door, where Roth 401(k) is the structural workaround.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Welders in New Jersey and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and New Jersey 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