Welders Salary

Roseville vs St. Cloud: Welder Salary (2026)

Compare welder salaries between Roseville, MN and St. Cloud, MN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Roseville, MN
$62,102
$29.86/hr
St. Cloud, MN
$65,327
$31.40/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRoseville, MNSt. Cloud, MN
Median Salary$62,102$65,327
Hourly Rate$29.86$31.40
Entry Level (P10)$46,359$50,446
25th Percentile$54,185$59,098
75th Percentile$72,103$70,880
Top Earner (P90)$86,875$83,754
Total Employed8620
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Roseville ($62,102) and St. Cloud ($65,327) welder salaries.RosevilleSt. CloudMedian Salary$62,102$65,327Entry Level (P10)$46,359$50,446Top Earner (P90)$86,875$83,754US Median $55,895

Verdict

St. Cloud, MN offers better overall compensation for welders, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Roseville.

The salary gap between Roseville and St. Cloud is $3,225 (5.19%). St. Cloud's median is +16.87% compared to the US national median of $55,895.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Roseville spans $40,516,St. Cloud spans $33,308. Roseville has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Roseville
P10 (Entry)$46,359
P25$54,185
Median$62,102
P75$72,103
P90 (Top)$86,875
St. Cloud
P10 (Entry)$50,446
P25$59,098
Median$65,327
P75$70,880
P90 (Top)$83,754

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Cloud ($74,547 effective) pays 18.24% more than Roseville ($63,048 effective).

Roseville
Nominal: $62,102
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $63,048
St. Cloud
Nominal: $65,327
CoL Index: 87.632
Adjusted: $74,547

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Roseville if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($86,875)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Choose St. Cloud if…

  • Higher median salary ($65,327/year)
  • Larger job market (620 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $74,547)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, welder salaries in Roseville grew 5.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 29.9% growth in St. Cloud over the same period.

Roseville, MN

+5.7%

$56,504 (2024) → $59,719 (2025)

St. Cloud, MN

+29.9%

$48,360 (2019) → $62,820 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays welders more: Roseville or St. Cloud?

St. Cloud has a higher median welder salary at $65,327/year, compared to Roseville at $62,102/year — a difference of $3,225 (5.19%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Roseville and St. Cloud?

Roseville welders earn $29.86/hr while St. Cloud hygienists earn $31.40/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Roseville to St. Cloud as a welder?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Roseville and St. Cloud. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Roseville = $63,048, St. Cloud = $74,547), job availability (8 vs 620 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level welders earn in Roseville vs St. Cloud?

Entry-level (10th percentile) welders earn $46,359 in Roseville and $50,446 in St. Cloud. The St. Cloud area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JM

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.

Clinically reviewed by Priya Singh, CWIData verified by Liam O'Connor, Welding Instructor

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.99% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by James Mendoza, AWS Certified Welder, a licensed welder with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov