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Best states for a welder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and production and manufacturing careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to welder jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for welders.In fact, our research shows that Maine is the best state for welders in America. The best city in America for welders with the highest pay is Woburn, MA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for welders.We found that Maine is the best state for welder jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for welders in 2025
1. Maine
Total welder jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $47,753 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
2. Alaska
Total welder jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $49,549 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
3. Rhode Island
Total welder jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $47,640 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. North Dakota
Total welder jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $42,656 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. Massachusetts
Total welder jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $53,090 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
6. Wyoming
Total welder jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $48,842 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.61
7. Louisiana
Total welder jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $43,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
8. Delaware
Total welder jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $49,500 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.41
9. Washington
Total welder jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $44,917 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Oregon
Total welder jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $43,411 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
Welder jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a welder
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a welder
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $47,753 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 28 |
| 2 | Alaska | $49,549 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 19 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $47,640 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 19 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $42,656 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 17 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,090 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 57 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $48,842 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 5 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $43,943 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 53 |
| 8 | Delaware | $49,500 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 7 |
| 9 | Washington | $44,917 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 113 |
| 10 | Oregon | $43,411 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 84 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $41,112 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 232 |
| 12 | Vermont | $46,496 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 6 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $50,543 | $33,000 | 9,005,644 | 38 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $42,878 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 160 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $48,073 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 19 |
| 16 | Nevada | $43,643 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 21 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $39,960 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 163 |
| 18 | New York | $45,824 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 86 |
| 19 | Arizona | $42,066 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 71 |
| 20 | Maryland | $46,542 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 27 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $44,265 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 5 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $42,594 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 4 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $37,679 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 39 |
| 24 | Indiana | $37,186 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 187 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $40,569 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 9 |
| 26 | Iowa | $36,252 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 143 |
| 27 | California | $44,031 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 316 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $38,314 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 65 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,616 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 126 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $37,279 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 55 |
| 31 | Ohio | $36,920 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 172 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $36,339 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 101 |
| 33 | Michigan | $37,290 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 109 |
| 34 | Colorado | $40,994 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 44 |
| 35 | Texas | $38,153 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 263 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,098 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 40 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $35,068 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 31 |
| 38 | Missouri | $36,345 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 91 |
| 39 | Illinois | $37,438 | $27,000 | 12,802,023 | 178 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $37,440 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 115 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $43,056 | $29,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $34,707 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 68 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $34,569 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 50 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,265 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 49 |
| 45 | Alabama | $35,546 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 63 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $37,678 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 5 |
| 47 | Montana | $35,056 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 9 |
| 48 | Georgia | $34,681 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 112 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $33,461 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 34 |
| 50 | Idaho | $35,431 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 12 |
| 51 | Florida | $34,810 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 164 |
Highest paying states for welders
| Rank | State | Avg. Welder Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $47,753 |
| 2 | Alaska | $49,549 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $47,640 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $42,656 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,090 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $48,842 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $43,943 |
| 8 | Delaware | $49,500 |
| 9 | Washington | $44,917 |
| 10 | Oregon | $43,411 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $41,112 |
| 12 | Vermont | $46,496 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $50,543 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $42,878 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $48,073 |
| 16 | Nevada | $43,643 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $39,960 |
| 18 | New York | $45,824 |
| 19 | Arizona | $42,066 |
| 20 | Maryland | $46,542 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $44,265 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $42,594 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $37,679 |
| 24 | Indiana | $37,186 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $40,569 |
| 26 | Iowa | $36,252 |
| 27 | California | $44,031 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $38,314 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,616 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $37,279 |
| 31 | Ohio | $36,920 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $36,339 |
| 33 | Michigan | $37,290 |
| 34 | Colorado | $40,994 |
| 35 | Texas | $38,153 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,098 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $35,068 |
| 38 | Missouri | $36,345 |
| 39 | Illinois | $37,438 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $37,440 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $43,056 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $34,707 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $34,569 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,265 |
| 45 | Alabama | $35,546 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $37,678 |
| 47 | Montana | $35,056 |
| 48 | Georgia | $34,681 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $33,461 |
| 50 | Idaho | $35,431 |
| 51 | Florida | $34,810 |
Welder best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025