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Welder operator salary
Average welder operator salary
$15.23
Average Welder Operator Salary
The average welder operator salary is about $31,669 per year, or around $15 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience level, and the specific industry. For instance, experienced welders often command higher salaries in sectors like construction and manufacturing.
Where Can a Welder Operator Earn More?
Welder operators in states such as California and Texas tend to earn more due to higher demand and cost of living adjustments. Cities like Los Angeles and Houston also offer competitive salaries, making them attractive locations for job seekers. By acquiring additional certifications or specialized skills, welders can further enhance their earning potential.
Welder Operator Salaries by Experience Level
Entry-level welders can expect to earn around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can see salaries rise significantly, often exceeding $40,000. This upward trajectory showcases the potential for growth within the profession.
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Where can a Welder Operator earn more?
Welder operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level welder operator | $21,600 | $10.40 |
| Mid-level welder operator | $30,300 | $14.55 |
| Senior-level welder operator | $46,200 | $22.23 |
Average welder operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for welder operators are Wyoming, North Dakota, and Washington. The lowest average welder operator salary states are Kentucky, New York, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for welder operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $37,791 | $18.17 |
| 2 | Alaska | $38,156 | $18.34 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $37,298 | $17.93 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $39,486 | $18.98 |
| 5 | Indiana | $33,884 | $16.29 |
| 6 | Iowa | $34,278 | $16.48 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $45,921 | $22.08 |
| 8 | Washington | $39,235 | $18.86 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $34,385 | $16.53 |
| 10 | Oregon | $36,658 | $17.62 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $35,089 | $16.87 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $33,253 | $15.99 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $35,974 | $17.30 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $32,924 | $15.83 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $35,447 | $17.04 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $33,094 | $15.91 |
| 17 | Delaware | $36,196 | $17.40 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $33,751 | $16.23 |
| 19 | Nevada | $35,025 | $16.84 |
| 20 | Colorado | $36,877 | $17.73 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $32,883 | $15.81 |
| 22 | Kansas | $32,875 | $15.81 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $33,084 | $15.91 |
| 24 | Vermont | $34,286 | $16.48 |
| 25 | Maryland | $36,563 | $17.58 |
| 26 | Utah | $32,753 | $15.75 |
| 27 | Texas | $33,107 | $15.92 |
| 28 | Maine | $32,156 | $15.46 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $32,708 | $15.72 |
| 30 | Illinois | $33,025 | $15.88 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $32,661 | $15.70 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $30,543 | $14.68 |
| 33 | Ohio | $30,452 | $14.64 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $31,348 | $15.07 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $31,485 | $15.14 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $31,104 | $14.95 |
| 37 | Arizona | $32,258 | $15.51 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $30,874 | $14.84 |
| 39 | California | $33,230 | $15.98 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $29,903 | $14.38 |
| 41 | Idaho | $32,045 | $15.41 |
| 42 | Montana | $32,302 | $15.53 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $30,823 | $14.82 |
| 44 | Missouri | $30,923 | $14.87 |
| 45 | Alabama | $29,976 | $14.41 |
| 46 | Georgia | $29,349 | $14.11 |
| 47 | Michigan | $29,215 | $14.05 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $29,193 | $14.04 |
| 49 | Virginia | $30,498 | $14.66 |
| 50 | Florida | $28,396 | $13.65 |
| 51 | New York | $29,473 | $14.17 |
Highest paying cities for welder operators
The highest-paying cities for welder operators are Chicopee, MA, Grand Junction, CO, and Carlsbad, NM.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicopee, MA | $37,343 | $17.95 |
| 2 | Grand Junction, CO | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 3 | Carlsbad, NM | $35,471 | $17.05 |
| 4 | Westfield, IN | $33,823 | $16.26 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,247 | $15.98 |
| 6 | West Chicago, IL | $33,109 | $15.92 |
| 7 | Kansas City, KS | $32,890 | $15.81 |
| 8 | Oceanside, CA | $32,828 | $15.78 |
| 9 | Bethlehem, PA | $31,356 | $15.07 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $31,109 | $14.96 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $30,624 | $14.72 |
| 12 | Chattanooga, TN | $30,438 | $14.63 |
| 13 | Huntsville, AL | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| 14 | Georgetown, KY | $29,920 | $14.38 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $29,440 | $14.15 |
| 16 | Muskegon, MI | $29,330 | $14.10 |
Welder operator salary details
A welder operator's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a welder operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,669 | $2,639 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying welder operator jobs
The highest paying types of welder operators are combo welder, pipe welder, and lead welder.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Welder | $42,868 | $3,572 | $20.61 | 9,651 |
| Combo Welder | $46,985 | $3,915 | $22.59 | 8,266 |
| Pipe Welder | $46,364 | $3,864 | $22.29 | 7,738 |
| Lead Welder | $45,718 | $3,810 | $21.98 | 8,274 |
| MIG Welder | $35,476 | $2,956 | $17.06 | 7,051 |
| TIG Welder | $38,192 | $3,183 | $18.36 | 7,053 |
Top companies hiring welder operators now:
Which companies pay welder operators the most?
Welder operator salaries at Capco and Valmont Industries are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average welder operator salary at companies like RailWorks and Flex-N-Gate are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capco | $40,867 | $19.65 |
| 2 | Valmont Industries | $40,820 | $19.63 |
| 3 | RailWorks | $37,961 | $18.25 |
| 4 | Flex-N-Gate | $36,667 | $17.63 |
| 5 | Black Hills | $36,646 | $17.62 |
| 6 | Leggett & Platt | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 7 | Brunswick | $35,812 | $17.22 |
| 8 | Nucor | $35,665 | $17.15 |
| 9 | Laclede Chain | $35,567 | $17.10 |
| 10 | Knoll | $34,653 | $16.66 |
| 11 | Worthington Industries | $34,542 | $16.61 |
| 12 | Aerotek | $33,736 | $16.22 |
| 13 | Staffmark | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| 14 | Adecco | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| 15 | Webster Industries | $33,318 | $16.02 |
| 16 | Plymouth Tube | $33,263 | $15.99 |
| 17 | AtWork | $33,186 | $15.95 |
| 18 | Elwood Staffing | $33,161 | $15.94 |
| 19 | Austal | $33,076 | $15.90 |
| 20 | The Reserves Network | $32,870 | $15.80 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Welder Operator salary by industry
The average welder operator salary varies across industries:
- The average welder operator salary in the automotive industry is $37,042, the highest of any industry.
- The average welder operator salary in the finance industry is $35,792.
- Welder operators in the retail industry earn an average salary of $32,250, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for welder operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $37,042 | $17.81 |
| 2 | Construction | $35,792 | $17.21 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $33,957 | $16.33 |
| 4 | Professional | $32,596 | $15.67 |
| 5 | Retail | $32,250 | $15.50 |
High paying welder operator jobs
Welder operator salary trends
The average welder operator salary has risen by $5,927 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average welder operator earned $25,742 annually, but today, they earn $31,669 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for welder operators over the last decade.
Compare welder operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average welder operator salary over time
Compare welder operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Welder operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $31,700 | $15.23 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $30,500 | $14.64 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $29,700 | $14.26 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $28,800 | $13.86 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $28,200 | $13.57 | +3.1% |
Recently added welder operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pall | Welder Operator Trainee | Cortland, NY | 06/30/2025 | $60,293 |
| Worthington Industries | Laser Weld Operator-1St. Shift | Canton, MI | 06/29/2025 | $42,867 |
| Black Hills Corporation | Welder Operations Technician I, II or Senior | Castle Rock, CO | 06/27/2025 | $58,540 |
| Danaher | Welder Operator Trainee | Cortland, NY | 06/24/2025 | $60,293 |
| Ideal Tridon | Welding Operator-2Nd Shift | Garden Grove, CA | 06/17/2025 | $48,001 |
| Middleville Engineered Solutions | Weld Operator | Middleville, MI | 06/16/2025 | $40,342 |
| Toledo Tool & Die Co Inc. | Weld Operator (ALL Shifts) | Toledo, OH | 06/10/2025 | $35,479 |
| Ichor | Welder Operator-1St. Shift | Sauk Rapids, MN | 06/05/2025 | $38,839 |
| Texas Department of Transportation | Welder I or II-Fleet Operations Division | Amarillo, TX | 05/23/2025 | $55,000 |
| Ichor | Welder Operator; 1St. Shift | Sauk Rapids, MN | 05/18/2025 | $38,839 |
Welder operator salary FAQs
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