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Welder salary
Average welder salary
$39,696
Average Welder Salary
The average salary for a welder in the United States is around $39,696 per year, or approximately $19 per hour. However, salaries can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, welders in manufacturing tend to earn more than those in construction.
Where Can a Welder Earn More?
States like Alaska, Washington, and New York typically offer the highest salaries for welders. In addition, welders with specialized skills, such as underwater welding or pipeline welding, often command higher wages due to the technical nature of their work.
Experience Matters
Entry-level welders can expect to start at lower wage levels, while those with several years of experience can significantly increase their earnings. According to industry data, welders with 10 years or more of experience can earn upwards of $50,000 annually.
Career Advancement Opportunities
For those looking to increase their earning potential, pursuing certifications and additional training can lead to higher-paying positions. Specialty certifications in areas like TIG or MIG welding can open doors to more lucrative job opportunities.
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Where can a Welder earn more?
Welder salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level welder | $27,100 | $13.04 |
| Mid-level welder | $37,900 | $18.23 |
| Senior-level welder | $58,000 | $27.87 |
Welder salary estimates from across the web
Average welder salary by state
The average welder salary in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average welder salary states are Montana, Florida, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for welders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $47,753 | $22.96 |
| 2 | Alaska | $49,549 | $23.82 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $42,656 | $20.51 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,090 | $25.52 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $48,842 | $23.48 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $43,943 | $21.13 |
| 8 | Delaware | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| 9 | Washington | $44,917 | $21.59 |
| 10 | Oregon | $43,411 | $20.87 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $41,112 | $19.77 |
| 12 | Vermont | $46,496 | $22.35 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $50,543 | $24.30 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $42,878 | $20.61 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $48,073 | $23.11 |
| 16 | Nevada | $43,643 | $20.98 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| 18 | New York | $45,824 | $22.03 |
| 19 | Arizona | $42,066 | $20.22 |
| 20 | Maryland | $46,542 | $22.38 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $44,265 | $21.28 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $42,594 | $20.48 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $37,679 | $18.11 |
| 24 | Indiana | $37,186 | $17.88 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $40,569 | $19.50 |
| 26 | Iowa | $36,252 | $17.43 |
| 27 | California | $44,031 | $21.17 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $38,314 | $18.42 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,616 | $20.01 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $37,279 | $17.92 |
| 31 | Ohio | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $36,339 | $17.47 |
| 33 | Michigan | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| 34 | Colorado | $40,994 | $19.71 |
| 35 | Texas | $38,153 | $18.34 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,098 | $18.32 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $35,068 | $16.86 |
| 38 | Missouri | $36,345 | $17.47 |
| 39 | Illinois | $37,438 | $18.00 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $43,056 | $20.70 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $34,707 | $16.69 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $34,569 | $16.62 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,265 | $16.95 |
| 45 | Alabama | $35,546 | $17.09 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $37,678 | $18.11 |
| 47 | Montana | $35,056 | $16.85 |
| 48 | Georgia | $34,681 | $16.67 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $33,461 | $16.09 |
| 50 | Idaho | $35,431 | $17.03 |
| 51 | Florida | $34,810 | $16.74 |
Highest paying cities for welders
The highest-paying cities for welders are Woburn, MA, Portland, ME, and Richmond, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woburn, MA | $52,906 | $25.44 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $48,366 | $23.25 |
| 3 | Richmond, CA | $46,017 | $22.12 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $45,922 | $22.08 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $44,247 | $21.27 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,754 | $20.55 |
| 7 | Lancaster, PA | $42,402 | $20.39 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $42,232 | $20.30 |
| 9 | Green Bay, WI | $41,743 | $20.07 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $41,374 | $19.89 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $40,939 | $19.68 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,998 | $19.23 |
| 13 | Youngstown, OH | $38,601 | $18.56 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $38,207 | $18.37 |
| 15 | Fort Wayne, IN | $37,983 | $18.26 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,501 | $18.03 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $36,708 | $17.65 |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | $36,591 | $17.59 |
Welders are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Welder salary details
A welder's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a welder's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $39,696 | $3,308 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying welder jobs
The highest paying types of welders are welding supervisor, pipefitter/welder, and combo welder.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabricator | $34,922 | $2,910 | $16.79 | 7,772 |
| Saw Operator | $32,319 | $2,693 | $15.54 | 58,465 |
| Ship Fitter | $45,247 | $3,771 | $21.75 | 9,742 |
| Metal Fabricator | $38,047 | $3,171 | $18.29 | 4,868 |
| Grinder | $33,001 | $2,750 | $15.87 | 3,409 |
| Maintenance Welder | $40,659 | $3,388 | $19.55 | 78,332 |
Top companies hiring welders now:
Which companies pay welders the most?
Welder salaries at California Resources and Nabors Industries are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average welder salary at companies like Hess and Datamatics are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Resources | $92,635 | $44.54 |
| 2 | Nabors Industries | $83,306 | $40.05 |
| 3 | Hess | $77,143 | $37.09 |
| 4 | Datamatics | $76,908 | $36.98 |
| 5 | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | $76,764 | $36.91 |
| 6 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $70,641 | $33.96 |
| 7 | BWX Technologies | $70,380 | $33.84 |
| 8 | Apache | $67,785 | $32.59 |
| 9 | Forum Energy Technologies | $66,559 | $32.00 |
| 10 | ABB | $66,203 | $31.83 |
| 11 | Plug Power | $65,668 | $31.57 |
| 12 | Halliburton | $64,789 | $31.15 |
| 13 | Applied Materials | $63,570 | $30.56 |
| 14 | Exterran Corporation HQ | $63,519 | $30.54 |
| 15 | City of Los Angeles | $63,490 | $30.52 |
| 16 | Baker Hughes | $63,185 | $30.38 |
| 17 | Smiths Group | $62,689 | $30.14 |
| 18 | Ranger Energy Services | $60,788 | $29.23 |
| 19 | MDU Resources | $60,785 | $29.22 |
| 20 | Fluor Corporation | $60,481 | $29.08 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Welder salary by industry
The average welder salary varies across industries:
- The average welder salary in the automotive industry is $45,059, the highest of any industry.
- The average welder salary in the finance industry is $44,367.
- Welders in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $38,765, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for welders
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $45,059 | $21.66 |
| 2 | Energy | $44,367 | $21.33 |
| 3 | Technology | $43,526 | $20.93 |
| 4 | Construction | $42,608 | $20.48 |
| 5 | Professional | $41,081 | $19.75 |
| 6 | Manufacturing | $40,294 | $19.37 |
| 7 | Retail | $39,646 | $19.06 |
| 8 | Transportation | $38,765 | $18.64 |
High paying welder jobs
Welder salary trends
The average welder salary has risen by $7,429 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average welder earned $32,267 annually, but today, they earn $39,696 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for welders over the last decade.
Compare welder salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average welder salary over time
Compare welder salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Welder salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,700 | $19.08 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $38,200 | $18.35 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $37,200 | $17.87 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $36,100 | $17.38 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +3.1% |
Recently added welder salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hills Corporation | Pipeline Welder | Douglas, WY | 06/30/2025 | $64,363 |
| Service Corporation International | Mechanic/Welder (Temporary) | Whittier, CA | 06/30/2025 | $55,306 |
| Toro | Day Shift Welder-Ditch Witch | Perry, OK | 06/30/2025 | $40,446 |
| Ichor Systems | Welder-2Nd Shift | Sauk Rapids, MN | 06/29/2025 | $38,839 |
| Daifuku North America Holding Company | Welder | Boyne City, MI | 06/29/2025 | $43,222 |
| Mickey Truck Bodies | Welder Freehold New Jersey | Freehold, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $48,001 |
| Wieland Chase | Pressure Vessel Welder Weekend | Delaware, OH | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| W M Holdings Inc. | Welder-PTO, Boot Allowance, 401(K) Match! | Commerce City, CO | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| W M Holdings Inc. | Welder | Schertz, TX | 06/29/2025 | $50,088 |
| Sundyne | Senior Welder | Arvada, CO | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
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