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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Wisconsin: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary really buy you in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$57,640
Median annual (2025)
+8.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$62,448
COL-adjusted (RPP=92.3)

Wisconsin Cost of Living Index

Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earning $57,640 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $62,448 in an average-cost US state.

WI: 92.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $44,370 $48,071 +$3,701
25th Percentile (P25) $48,190 $52,210 +$4,020
Median (P50) $57,640 $62,448 +$4,808
75th Percentile (P75) $63,340 $68,624 +$5,284
90th Percentile (P90) $67,730 $73,380 +$5,650
Key Insight

A Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Wisconsin earns $57,640 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $62,448 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Wisconsin Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 92.3

Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 92.3 means a basket of goods and services costs about 7.7% less than the national average. For a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+8.3%

After applying Wisconsin's RPP, the $57,640 median salary translates to $62,449 in real terms — a 8.3% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Wisconsin

#3 / 44

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wisconsin places #3 of 44 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (After Cost of Living)

Where does Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Arizona
$70,220
RPP 99.9
$63,786
RPP 89.8
$62,448
RPP 92.3
$61,701
RPP 91.1
5. Alaska
$61,470
RPP 102.0
$59,681
RPP 88.0
$58,915
RPP 97.7
8. Iowa
$58,529
RPP 88.4
$58,084
RPP 101.3
10. Kentucky
$56,756
RPP 89.4

Wisconsin ranks #3 out of 44 states for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders take-home pay in Wisconsin after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Wisconsin after cost of living?

A Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $57,640 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $62,448 — a +8.3% difference.

Is Wisconsin expensive to live in?

Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Wisconsin: $57,640 x (100 / 92.3) = $62,448. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Wisconsin financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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