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Job outlook for welder/machinists in the United States
Welder/machinist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected welder/machinist job growth rate is 1% from 2018-2028.
About 3,900 new jobs for welder/machinists are projected over the next decade.
Welder/machinist salaries have increased 10% for welder/machinists in the last 5 years.
There are over 145,075 welder/machinists currently employed in the United States.
There are 17,543 active welder/machinist job openings in the US.
The average welder/machinist salary is $38,338.
Are welder/machinist jobs in demand?
Welder/machinist job and salary trends over time
Welder/machinist jobs over time
Welder/machinist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145,075 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 156,883 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 166,953 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 167,336 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 164,711 | 0.05% |
Average welder/machinist salary over time
Welder/machinist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $38,338 | $18.43 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $37,150 | $17.86 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $36,489 | $17.54 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $35,628 | $17.13 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $34,875 | $16.77 | +2.8% |
Welder/machinist jobs by state
Most common states for welder/machinists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 314 | 5% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 280 | 5% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 172 | 5% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 45 | 5% |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 234 | 4% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 168 | 4% |
| 7 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 47 | 4% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 28 | 4% |
| 9 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 353 | 3% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 92 | 3% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 61 | 3% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 35 | 3% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 31 | 3% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 290 | 2% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 282 | 2% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 194 | 2% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 159 | 2% |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 132 | 2% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 15 | 2% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 10 | 2% |
Most common cities for welder/machinists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joliet | 1 | 1% | $40,118 |
Welder/Machinist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of welder/machinist experts
University of Alaska Southeast
Precision Machined Products Association
What skills stand out on Welder/Machinist resumes?
Ryan Houtcooper: The skills that stand out most depend a great deal on the geographic location of the individual. For example, if I were to have someone approach me for a job here in Ketchikan, I would look for two things. Is the person capable of welding aluminum and stainless steel? Now, if I were still down in the midwest chasing pipelines and someone came to me for a job, I would be looking for two different things. Is the person capable and efficient at fitting and welding pipes? However, should a person who has a magnitude of experience and is well rounded in most welding processes ever approach for a job, then that person would supersede anyone who has just one or two capabilities.
What soft skills should all Welder/Machinists possess?
Ryan Houtcooper: For a welder, having PATIENCE is the biggest attribute. But there are a few other key factors that go into the success of a welder's career, such as having good communication skills, both written and oral. Having the knowledge and ability to do mathematical problem solving, along with the ability to read blueprints/shop drawings. These are the most critical aspects to the welder.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Welder/Machinists?
Ryan Houtcooper: Knowing how to troubleshoot welding equipment, setting up and taking down equipment related to the trade (pan breaks, plate rollers, plate shears, torch sets, overhead cranes, forklifts, CNC machines, etc...). Rigging heavy objects for crane picks is also an important factor for big outfits.
What skills will help Welder/Machinists earn the most?
Ryan Houtcooper: Pipe welding. In my travels all over the country for the last 20 years, being a well-rounded pipe welder pays the most. A person who can weld carbon steel pipe and stainless steel pipe, copper pipe, austenitic duplex pipe, and aluminum pipe will be first picked and paid the most out of all other welders. The sliding scale for pipe welders can range from $35/hr to $280/hr, depending on the region and industry.
What type of skills will young Welder/Machinists need?
Miles Free: Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.
Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Welder/Machinists to find work opportunities?
Miles Free: Our shops were hiring, even during the pandemic. (Some of us needed extra personnel as we were suddenly making ventilators.) 80% of our PMPA shops today say that they are looking for talent. Small family-owned metalworking shops are particularly useful places to make a career. We pay well, we are putting in the latest technology, our work is essential (in September, our sales were up 8.4%, while manufacturing, in general, was still down 0.3 %).
Our shops help with tuition and training expenses. Our wages are U.S. Household Median after a few years on the job. The best place to find a job in our field is to enroll in a local community college CNC machining program. My experience has been that an employer will likely be trying to hire you before completing your first semester.
How do you envision technology impacting Welder/Machinists in the next 5 years?
Miles Free: Technology is going to create higher-value jobs than it is feared it will destroy. There is a shortage of talent. As our shops install more technology (automation) to make up for this, it will require higher-skilled people to program and maintain the new technology and train new people coming into the field. I see a healthy job outlook for machining skills, welding skills, mechatronics, robotics, and systems integration in manufacturing for a very long time. So the current talent will be upskilling to keep up with the new technology's needs. We are looking for a general opinion on entering the workforce!