Salary comparison
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: Bellingham vs Lima
Lima, OH pays about 34.6% more for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers on paper — $85,790 vs $63,720. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Lima comes out ahead by $22,070 a year in real buying power.
Bellingham, WA
$63,720
$55,150
$72,120
$30.64
100
$63,720/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Lima, OH
$85,790
$53,680
$85,790
$41.25
100
$85,790/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $22,070 a year (34.6%) in favor of Lima. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bellingham runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Lima sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Lima is the better deal by $22,070 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Bellingham to Lima for this role, the raise needs to beat 34.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn more, Bellingham or Lima?
Lima pays $85,790 on median — about 34.6% more than Bellingham ($63,720). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Lima. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Lima gives you roughly$85,790 of real buying power versus $63,720 in the other city.