Best states for a welder-machine operator

Q: What is the best state for welder-machine operators?

The best state to be a welder-machine operator is Rhode Island based on welder-machine operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for welder-machine operators?

The highest paying state for welder-machine operators is Kentucky based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for welder-machine operators?

The worst state for welder-machine operators is Colorado, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for welder-machine operators in the United States. Welder-machine operator positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for welder-machine operators.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for welder-machine operators. We found that Rhode Island is the best state in the nation for welder-machine operators, and people in Carson City earn the most in the field.

The median salary for welder-machine operators in Rhode Island is $46,688. Compare that to the median salary in Colorado of $32,576, which ranked worst for welder-machine operators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Rhode Island is the best state, and Carson City is the city with the highest pay for welder-machine operators.

10 best states for welder-machine operators in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 154
Average annual salary: $46,688
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
2.57
Welder-machine operator jobs in Rhode Island
2. Massachusetts
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 1,266
Average annual salary: $45,858
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
2.79
Welder-machine operator jobs in Massachusetts
3. New Hampshire
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 166
Average annual salary: $44,854
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
1.92
Welder-machine operator jobs in New Hampshire
4. Connecticut
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 138
Average annual salary: $47,159
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
0.84
Welder-machine operator jobs in Connecticut
5. Ohio
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 704
Average annual salary: $42,027
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
1.4
Welder-machine operator jobs in Ohio
6. Nevada
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 45
Average annual salary: $47,957
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
0.44
Welder-machine operator jobs in Nevada
7. Wisconsin
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 686
Average annual salary: $39,798
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
2.51
Welder-machine operator jobs in Wisconsin
8. South Dakota
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 56
Average annual salary: $40,905
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Welder-machine operator jobs in South Dakota
9. Vermont
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $43,498
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.61
Welder-machine operator jobs in Vermont
10. Delaware
Total welder-machine operator jobs: 29
Average annual salary: $45,799
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
0.47
Welder-machine operator jobs in Delaware

Welder-machine operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a welder-machine operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a welder-machine operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$46,688	$32,000	1,059,639	154
2	Massachusetts	$45,858	$32,000	6,859,819	1,266
3	New Hampshire	$44,854	$32,000	1,342,795	166
4	Connecticut	$47,159	$32,000	3,588,184	138
5	Ohio	$42,027	$31,000	11,658,609	704
6	Nevada	$47,957	$33,000	2,998,039	45
7	Wisconsin	$39,798	$30,000	5,795,483	686
8	South Dakota	$40,905	$31,000	869,666	56
9	Vermont	$43,498	$32,000	623,657	23
10	Delaware	$45,799	$31,000	961,939	29
11	Alaska	$41,541	$34,000	739,795	113
12	California	$47,690	$32,000	39,536,653	770
13	Pennsylvania	$40,573	$27,000	12,805,537	576
14	Utah	$40,560	$30,000	3,101,833	134
15	Hawaii	$42,484	$31,000	1,427,538	95
16	District of Columbia	$43,767	$30,000	693,972	116
17	Arizona	$41,424	$28,000	7,016,270	183
18	Louisiana	$40,614	$27,000	4,684,333	99
19	Maine	$39,847	$30,000	1,335,907	53
20	Indiana	$37,779	$28,000	6,666,818	527
21	North Dakota	$39,318	$31,000	755,393	29
22	Nebraska	$38,681	$29,000	1,920,076	129
23	New Jersey	$39,197	$26,000	9,005,644	905
24	Mississippi	$37,963	$26,000	2,984,100	113
25	South Carolina	$39,370	$27,000	5,024,369	179
26	Oregon	$39,961	$29,000	4,142,776	177
27	Montana	$40,915	$31,000	1,050,493	20
28	Maryland	$44,295	$30,000	6,052,177	128
29	North Carolina	$36,842	$26,000	10,273,419	600
30	Washington	$39,830	$30,000	7,405,743	202
31	Minnesota	$35,971	$28,000	5,576,606	557
32	Idaho	$39,460	$29,000	1,716,943	32
33	Tennessee	$34,670	$25,000	6,715,984	365
34	Iowa	$33,902	$26,000	3,145,711	298
35	Virginia	$38,914	$27,000	8,470,020	223
36	Wyoming	$37,776	$29,000	579,315	9
37	New York	$39,245	$26,000	19,849,399	305
38	Georgia	$34,602	$24,000	10,429,379	547
39	Kansas	$33,401	$24,000	2,913,123	164
40	Oklahoma	$35,042	$25,000	3,930,864	92
41	Michigan	$32,884	$24,000	9,962,311	438
42	Alabama	$33,959	$23,000	4,874,747	163
43	Florida	$35,242	$24,000	20,984,400	454
44	Texas	$34,872	$23,000	28,304,596	580
45	Kentucky	$31,916	$23,000	4,454,189	237
46	Illinois	$32,411	$24,000	12,802,023	679
47	Arkansas	$32,130	$23,000	3,004,279	105
48	New Mexico	$34,578	$24,000	2,088,070	9
49	West Virginia	$33,128	$24,000	1,815,857	23
50	Missouri	$31,954	$23,000	6,113,532	288
51	Colorado	$32,576	$24,000	5,607,154	120

Highest paying states for welder-machine operators

Rank	State	Avg. Welder-Machine Operator Salary
1	Rhode Island	$46,688
2	Massachusetts	$45,858
3	New Hampshire	$44,854
4	Connecticut	$47,159
5	Ohio	$42,027
6	Nevada	$47,957
7	Wisconsin	$39,798
8	South Dakota	$40,905
9	Vermont	$43,498
10	Delaware	$45,799
11	Alaska	$41,541
12	California	$47,690
13	Pennsylvania	$40,573
14	Utah	$40,560
15	Hawaii	$42,484
16	District of Columbia	$43,767
17	Arizona	$41,424
18	Louisiana	$40,614
19	Maine	$39,847
20	Indiana	$37,779
21	North Dakota	$39,318
22	Nebraska	$38,681
23	New Jersey	$39,197
24	Mississippi	$37,963
25	South Carolina	$39,370
26	Oregon	$39,961
27	Montana	$40,915
28	Maryland	$44,295
29	North Carolina	$36,842
30	Washington	$39,830
31	Minnesota	$35,971
32	Idaho	$39,460
33	Tennessee	$34,670
34	Iowa	$33,902
35	Virginia	$38,914
36	Wyoming	$37,776
37	New York	$39,245
38	Georgia	$34,602
39	Kansas	$33,401
40	Oklahoma	$35,042
41	Michigan	$32,884
42	Alabama	$33,959
43	Florida	$35,242
44	Texas	$34,872
45	Kentucky	$31,916
46	Illinois	$32,411
47	Arkansas	$32,130
48	New Mexico	$34,578
49	West Virginia	$33,128
50	Missouri	$31,954
51	Colorado	$32,576

Welder-machine operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for welder-machine operators?

What is the highest paying state for welder-machine operators?

What is the worst state for welder-machine operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

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Welder-Machine Operator
Best states for Welder-Machine Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total welder-machine operator jobs:	154
Average annual salary:	$46,688
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$66,000
Location Quotient:	2.57

Best states for a welder-machine operator

10 best states for welder-machine operators in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. Massachusetts

3. New Hampshire

4. Connecticut

5. Ohio

6. Nevada

7. Wisconsin

8. South Dakota

9. Vermont

10. Delaware