Welder Career Guide: Plano, TX

Welcome to Plano, Texas. If you're a welder considering a move here, you're looking at a solid market. I've lived in the Dallas metro area for over a decade, and Plano isn't the wild, sprawling frontier some imagine. It's a well-planned, affluent suburb of Dallas with a surprising amount of heavy industry, especially in its northern and western fringes. The job market for skilled trades is steady, though not booming. The key is understanding the specific employers, the commute, and how your paycheck stacks up against the cost of living.

This guide uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and local market observations. Let's get to work.

The Salary Picture: Where Plano Stands

The median salary for welders in the Plano metro area is $50,080/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.08. This is just slightly above the national average of $49,590/year. It's not a massive premium, but it's a respectable baseline for a suburban market.

The job market size is modest. There are approximately 576 welding jobs in the Plano metro. The 10-year job growth is projected at 2%, which is slower than the national average for many trades. This tells me the market is stable but not expanding rapidly. You're not moving here for explosive growth; you're moving here for stable employment in a diverse economy.

Here’s how salary typically breaks down by experience level in this region:

Experience Level	Typical Salary Range (Annual)	What to Expect in Plano
Entry-Level	$35,000 - $42,000	Mostly production welding, MIG only. Less responsibility, more supervision.
Mid-Career	$45,000 - $55,000	You'll hit the median here. TIG or Stick proficiency gets you in this bracket.
Senior	$58,000 - $70,000	Often leads a small crew, handles complex blueprints, may have AWS certs.
Expert/Specialist	$70,000+	Aerospace, pressure vessels, or niche materials. Often requires travel.

How does Plano compare to other Texas cities for welders?

• Dallas: Salaries are similar (median ~$50,500), but cost of living is higher. The job pool is larger, but so is the competition.
• Houston: Significantly higher median salary (~$58,000+) due to oil, gas, and shipbuilding, but it's a much more volatile market tied to energy prices.
• Austin: Similar or slightly lower median (~$49,000), but the tech focus means fewer heavy industrial jobs. More fabrication for construction and niche tech.
• Fort Worth: Very similar to Plano, with a strong emphasis on aerospace and aviation (Lockheed Martin, Bell).

Insider Tip: Don't chase the median number alone. In Plano, the real money is in the specific employer. A welder at a major aerospace supplier will make more than one at a general fabrication shop, even with the same experience. The $50,080 is your starting point for negotiation.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get real about your budget. A single earner making the median $50,080 per year has a monthly gross income of about $4,173. After federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare taxes (estimate ~22% effective rate), your take-home pay is roughly $3,255/month.

Plano's cost of living index is 103.3, meaning it's 3.3% more expensive than the national average. The biggest factor is housing. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,291/month.

Here’s a sample monthly budget for a single welder earning the median wage:

Category	Estimated Cost	Notes
Take-Home Pay	$3,255	After taxes (22% effective rate)
Rent (1BR)	$1,291	Average for Plano; can be higher in certain areas
Utilities (Elec/Water/Gas)	$150 - $200	Varies by season; summer AC bills are high
Car Payment & Insurance	$500 - $700	Essential; Plano is car-dependent
Fuel	$150 - $200	Commutes are often 20-30 miles
Groceries	$300 - $400
Health Insurance	$200 - $400	If not covered by employer
Misc/Entertainment	$300
Remaining / Savings	~$264 - $664	Tight, but manageable. Savings are possible.

Can they afford to buy a home? This is the big question. The median home price in Plano is over $450,000. On a $50,080 salary, a traditional 20% down payment is nearly impossible, and lenders would be hesitant. With a 3-5% down payment, you'd be looking at a monthly mortgage (including taxes and insurance) of $2,800+, which is nearly your entire take-home pay. Homeownership is not feasible on a single median welder's salary in Plano. You would need a dual-income household or a significant salary jump into the senior/expert tier.

Where the Jobs Are: Plano's Major Employers

Plano's welding jobs are concentrated in a few key sectors: aerospace/aviation, medical device manufacturing, and heavy equipment. The jobs are not "downtown." They're in industrial parks along highways like US-75, President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT), and in neighboring cities like Richardson and Allen.

1. Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins): A giant in aviation and aerospace, with a major facility in Richardson (bordering Plano). They need welders for aircraft components, often requiring TIG welding on exotic alloys. This is a premier employer with excellent benefits, but hiring is competitive.
2. Bell Helicopter (Textron): Headquartered in Fort Worth, but has significant supply chain and R&D operations in the North Texas corridor. They hire for prototyping and production welding.
3. Medical Device Companies: The Plano/Allen area is a hub for medical device manufacturing. Companies like Stryker and Medtronic (though their formal HQs are elsewhere) have large plants nearby that require precision welders for surgical instruments and implantable devices. This is a growing sector.
4. Parker Hannifin (Structural Division): Located in the nearby city of Carrollton, this is a major manufacturer of motion control systems. They need welders for structural components, often in a production setting.
5. Local Fabrication & Machine Shops: There are dozens of smaller shops (e.g., Plano Steel & Metal, A1 Custom Welding & Fabrication) that serve the local construction and commercial sectors. These are your most accessible jobs, often hiring for MIG and Stick welding. Turnover can be higher, but they're good for building initial experience.
6. Construction & Infrastructure: With the constant growth in Collin County, there's steady work for welders on commercial construction sites (rebar, structural steel). This work is often project-based and may involve union participation.

Hiring Trends: Demand is steady for certified welders (AWS D1.1, etc.). The aerospace and medical sectors are growing slowly but steadily. The general fabrication and construction sectors are more tied to the local real estate market. The pandemic slowed some hiring, but the supply chain is recovering.

Insider Tip: Many of these major employers don't post jobs on general boards. Use Indeed and LinkedIn, but also check the career pages of these companies directly. Networking with local welders at supply stores (like Airgas or Praxair) can uncover unadvertised opportunities.

Getting Licensed in TX

Texas is a right-to-work state with no statewide licensing requirement for general welders. However, specific certifications are often required by employers.

• State Requirements: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) only requires a license for Pressure Welders (welding boilers, pressure vessels, piping) and Structural Welders on public works projects. For most shop and production work, a state license isn't needed.
• Certifications Required by Employers: The most common is the American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welder test. This is a performance-based test specific to the process (MIG, TIG, Stick) and material. Many employers will put you through this test upon hire. Having it beforehand makes you more competitive.
• Cost: An AWS certification test can cost $150 - $400 depending on the lab. The more specialized the test (e.g., for aerospace materials), the higher the cost.
• Timeline: If you're starting from scratch, a 6-month to 2-year welding program at a community college (like Collin College in McKinney or North Lake College in Irving) is the best path. These programs often include AWS certification testing as part of the curriculum. You can be job-ready in under a year with a solid foundation.

Insider Tip: If you have experience but no formal certs, find a local testing facility (search for "AWS test lab near Plano"). Get certified in MIG (GMAW) and/or TIG (GTAW) on mild steel. This is the most versatile combination for the DFW market.

Best Neighborhoods for Welders

Where you live depends on where you work. Commutes can be brutal. Here are 4-5 areas to consider, balancing commute, lifestyle, and rent.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Avg. 1BR Rent	Why It's Good for Welders
East Plano (75074)	Older, more diverse, close to US-75. Commute to northside industrial parks is 15-25 mins.	$1,150 - $1,250	Most affordable rents in Plano. Close to major employers like Collins.
West Plano (75093)	Affluent, clean, near the DNT (Dallas North Tollway). Commute to westside shops is easy, but farther from northside jobs.	$1,400 - $1,600	Better for welders working in Carrollton or Irving. Higher cost, but safer and quieter.
North Plano / Allen Border	Family-oriented, good schools. Commute to northside employers is minimal (10-20 mins).	$1,300 - $1,450	Ideal if you work at Bell, Collins, or medical device plants in Allen.
Richardson (75080)	A city in itself, bordering Plano to the south. More urban, with a great commute to south Plano and Dallas.	$1,250 - $1,400	Excellent central location. Home to many tech companies and some manufacturing.
Carrollton (75006/75007)	Not Plano, but a key industrial hub. Very affordable, with a high concentration of manufacturing jobs.	$1,100 - $1,200	Live where you work. If you get a job at Parker Hannifin, this is your best bet.

Insider Tip: If you land a job at a northside industrial park, East Plano or Allen will minimize your commute. Avoid living in Frisco or McKinney if you work in Carrollton—it's a reverse commute, but traffic on US-75 or 121 can add 45 minutes to your day.

The Long Game: Career Growth

With a 2% 10-year growth projection, you won't see massive expansion, but there is a clear path up.

1. Specialty Premiums:

   • TIG Welding: Adds $3 - $5/hour over MIG-only welders.
   • Aerospace/Medical Certs: Can push you into the $60,000 - $75,000 range.
   • Underwater Welding (Commercial): Requires additional training and certification. Pays $70,000 - $100,000+, but jobs are scarce and often require travel to coastal areas (Galveston, Corpus Christi).
   • Welding Inspector (CWI): The American Welding Society's Certified Welding Inspector credential can lead to supervisory roles and salaries over $80,000.

2. Advancement Paths:

   • Welder I → II → III → Lead: The standard climb in manufacturing.
   • Welder → Fabricator → Shop Foreman: In fabrication shops, this is a common path.
   • Welder → CWI (Inspector): Move from the torch to the clipboard. Requires more study and testing.
   • Welder → Sales/Estimator: Leverage your hands-on knowledge for a company that sells welding equipment or materials.

10-Year Outlook: The 2% growth means you'll see steady replacement demand as older welders retire, but few new positions. The key to growth is upskilling. The welders who will thrive are those who move from general fabrication to specialized, high-precision work in aerospace, medical, or energy infrastructure. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro is a hub for all three, but you need to position yourself for it.

The Verdict: Is Plano Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Stable, diversified job market (not reliant on one industry).	High cost of living (especially housing) relative to welder salaries.
Excellent highway infrastructure (easy to commute to neighboring cities).	Job growth is slow (2%); competition for the best jobs is real.
Affordable compared to Dallas proper.	Car-dependent; a car is a non-negotiable expense.
Safe, clean suburbs with good amenities (if you can afford them).	Homeownership is out of reach for a single median-earning welder.
Proximity to a massive metroplex (DFW) for job hunting and networking.	The "median" salary can be misleading; many entry-level jobs pay less.

Final Recommendation: Plano is a good choice for a mid-career welder with a specialty (TIG, aerospace, medical) who is looking for stability and a high quality of life. It's a challenging choice for an entry-level welder just starting out, as rent will consume over a third of your take-home pay. For a welder with a family and dual income, Plano becomes much more feasible. If you're young and want to build a career, consider starting in a lower-cost area (like Carrollton) and commuting to a Plano job, or target employers that offer relocation assistance.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to know Spanish to work as a welder in Plano?
A: No, English is the primary language of instruction and safety in all professional shops. However, Spanish is widely spoken on the shop floor, and knowing basic terms can help with team cohesion and safety.

Q: What's the best welding program near Plano?
A: Collin College (McKinney campus) has a highly regarded, comprehensive welding technology program. North Lake College (Irving campus) is another excellent public option. Both have strong industry connections.

Q: Is the weather a problem for welding jobs?
A: Yes. Summers are consistently over 100°F. Outdoor welding (construction) can be brutal. Indoor shop work has climate control, which is a major reason for the preference. Winter is mild, but occasional ice storms can disrupt commutes.

Q: How do I find a job here before moving?
A: Use Indeed and filter for Plano. Set up job alerts. Also, use LinkedIn to connect with hiring managers at the major employers listed (Collins, Parker, etc.). Be upfront that you're planning a move. Many companies will interview remotely for skilled trades.

Q: Are welding jobs in Plano usually unionized?
A: It's mixed. Jobs in construction on public projects may be union (Local 271). Most manufacturing and fabrication shops are non-union. The major aerospace employers are largely non-union but have strong collective bargaining agreements (like the UAW at some plants).