Welder Salary in Mason City, IA: $56,379 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time welder in Mason City, IA earns a median $56,379/year (≈ $27.11/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 51-4121). Once you factor in Mason City's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $62,366 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.3% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the anticipated welder salary in Mason City, Iowa, stands at $56,379, slightly above the national average of $55,895. This salary reflects a broad range of earnings, from $42,741 at the 10th percentile to $77,723 at the 90th percentile. Employing a diverse set of skills, welders in this locality may find differing compensation based on their area of specialty. Particularly, pipe welders who hold advanced certifications like the 6G pipe and ASME IX often command higher wages compared to their counterparts in structural or production welding. These variations in pay highlight the emphasis on specialized skills and experience within the local welder market, which remains competitive in Mason City.
About the Mason City Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,741 | $20.55 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,631 | $23.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,379 | $27.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $64,632 | $31.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77,723 | $37.36 |
Median Salary Position
0.87% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Mason City
In Mason City, IA, the welder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,982 (2026 est.). At $56,379, the local median is 0.87% above the national median of $55,895.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Mason City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Mason City Welder Pay Compares
Mason City median: $56,379/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Mason City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $59,535 | -5.30% less |
| National Average | $55,895 | +0.87% more |
Welders in Mason City, IA earn a median of $56,379 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.87% higher than the national median of $55,895 and 5.30% below the Iowa state average of $59,535.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Mason City has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Mason City, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A welder earning $56,379 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $62,366 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$42,858
2025 BLS Actual
$54,216
2026 Current Est.
$56,379
2019–2027 Growth
+36.8%
Salary Trajectory for Welders in Mason City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,858 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,573 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,418 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,952 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,364 | Actual |
| 2024 | $46,217 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,216 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,379 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,629 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Mason City metropolitan area, the median welder salary grew 26.5% from $42,858 (2019) to $54,216 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,629 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,771 (36.80%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Mason City 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) | $42,741 – $49,631 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,631 – $56,379 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,379 – $64,632 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $64,632 – $77,723 |
WLD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual welder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Welder Job Market in Mason City
The local job market sees a modest count of four welders currently employed in Mason City, which may suggest a tight-knit community of skilled tradespeople. Coupled with a cost of living index of 90.4, this can enhance the purchasing power of welders, making those salaries particularly valuable in a city with lower-than-average living expenses. While opportunities for high pay exist in specialized industries—like structural steel fabrication and oil and gas pipeline welding—the distribution of salaries also reflects the ebb and flow of the market, influenced by economic conditions, demand, and traveling work opportunities. To maximize pay in this region, welders can focus on obtaining higher certifications, such as 6G qualifications or diving certifications for underwater welding, which may also provide lucrative out-of-state opportunities, including per-diem paid positions. Strategic career planning toward such specialties can lead to significantly higher compensation, reflecting the realities of the Mason City job market.
More salary data for Mason City, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $54,216 for weldersin the Mason City 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
Salary data for Mason City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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