Salary comparison
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: Boulder vs Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK pays about 23.3% more for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers on paper — $80,210 vs $65,040. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Fairbanks comes out ahead by $15,170 a year in real buying power.
Boulder, CO
$65,040
$49,190
$69,810
$31.27
100
$65,040/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Fairbanks, AK
$80,210
$60,670
$109,940
$38.56
100
$80,210/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $15,170 a year (23.3%) in favor of Fairbanks. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Boulder runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Fairbanks sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Fairbanks is the better deal by $15,170 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Boulder to Fairbanks for this role, the raise needs to beat 23.3% 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, Boulder or Fairbanks?
Fairbanks pays $80,210 on median — about 23.3% more than Boulder ($65,040). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Fairbanks. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Fairbanks gives you roughly$80,210 of real buying power versus $65,040 in the other city.