Best states for a welder operator

Q: What is the best state for welder operators?

The best state to be a welder operator is Minnesota based on welder operator salaries and job opportunities.

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

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

Q: What is the worst state for welder operators?

The worst state for welder operators is New York, 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 operators in the United States. Welder 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 operators.As welder operators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for welder operators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a welder operator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

In order to get you the best states for welder operators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a welder operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for welder operators in 2025

1. Minnesota
Total welder operator jobs: 471
Average annual salary: $37,791
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.72
Welder operator jobs in Minnesota
2. Alaska
Total welder operator jobs: 111
Average annual salary: $38,156
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
3.22
Welder operator jobs in Alaska
3. Massachusetts
Total welder operator jobs: 1,256
Average annual salary: $37,298
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
3.31
Welder operator jobs in Massachusetts
4. North Dakota
Total welder operator jobs: 22
Average annual salary: $39,486
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.57
Welder operator jobs in North Dakota
5. Indiana
Total welder operator jobs: 489
Average annual salary: $33,884
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.8
Welder operator jobs in Indiana
6. Iowa
Total welder operator jobs: 261
Average annual salary: $34,278
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.74
Welder operator jobs in Iowa
7. Wyoming
Total welder operator jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $45,921
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.28
Welder operator jobs in Wyoming
8. Washington
Total welder operator jobs: 167
Average annual salary: $39,235
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Welder operator jobs in Washington
9. Nebraska
Total welder operator jobs: 104
Average annual salary: $34,385
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Welder operator jobs in Nebraska
10. Oregon
Total welder operator jobs: 125
Average annual salary: $36,658
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
0.73
Welder operator jobs in Oregon

Welder operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a welder operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a welder operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Minnesota	$37,791	$31,000	5,576,606	471
2	Alaska	$38,156	$34,000	739,795	111
3	Massachusetts	$37,298	$30,000	6,859,819	1,256
4	North Dakota	$39,486	$33,000	755,393	22
5	Indiana	$33,884	$28,000	6,666,818	489
6	Iowa	$34,278	$28,000	3,145,711	261
7	Wyoming	$45,921	$38,000	579,315	7
8	Washington	$39,235	$32,000	7,405,743	167
9	Nebraska	$34,385	$28,000	1,920,076	104
10	Oregon	$36,658	$30,000	4,142,776	125
11	Louisiana	$35,089	$28,000	4,684,333	92
12	Wisconsin	$33,253	$27,000	5,795,483	579
13	New Mexico	$35,974	$29,000	2,088,070	10
14	Mississippi	$32,924	$27,000	2,984,100	93
15	Hawaii	$35,447	$29,000	1,427,538	95
16	Rhode Island	$33,094	$26,000	1,059,639	154
17	Delaware	$36,196	$29,000	961,939	21
18	Oklahoma	$33,751	$28,000	3,930,864	79
19	Nevada	$35,025	$28,000	2,998,039	32
20	Colorado	$36,877	$30,000	5,607,154	82
21	South Dakota	$32,883	$27,000	869,666	53
22	Kansas	$32,875	$27,000	2,913,123	124
23	West Virginia	$33,084	$27,000	1,815,857	19
24	Vermont	$34,286	$28,000	623,657	18
25	Maryland	$36,563	$29,000	6,052,177	93
26	Utah	$32,753	$27,000	3,101,833	99
27	Texas	$33,107	$26,000	28,304,596	490
28	Maine	$32,156	$26,000	1,335,907	68
29	District of Columbia	$32,708	$26,000	693,972	110
30	Illinois	$33,025	$27,000	12,802,023	508
31	Connecticut	$32,661	$26,000	3,588,184	122
32	Tennessee	$30,543	$25,000	6,715,984	309
33	Ohio	$30,452	$25,000	11,658,609	576
34	Pennsylvania	$31,348	$25,000	12,805,537	487
35	New Hampshire	$31,485	$25,000	1,342,795	98
36	New Jersey	$31,104	$25,000	9,005,644	783
37	Arizona	$32,258	$26,000	7,016,270	155
38	North Carolina	$30,874	$25,000	10,273,419	427
39	California	$33,230	$26,000	39,536,653	636
40	Kentucky	$29,903	$24,000	4,454,189	202
41	Idaho	$32,045	$26,000	1,716,943	27
42	Montana	$32,302	$27,000	1,050,493	16
43	South Carolina	$30,823	$25,000	5,024,369	149
44	Missouri	$30,923	$25,000	6,113,532	202
45	Alabama	$29,976	$24,000	4,874,747	131
46	Georgia	$29,349	$24,000	10,429,379	477
47	Michigan	$29,215	$24,000	9,962,311	324
48	Arkansas	$29,193	$24,000	3,004,279	73
49	Virginia	$30,498	$24,000	8,470,020	178
50	Florida	$28,396	$22,000	20,984,400	371
51	New York	$29,473	$23,000	19,849,399	217

Highest paying states for welder operators

Rank	State	Avg. Welder Operator Salary
1	Minnesota	$37,791
2	Alaska	$38,156
3	Massachusetts	$37,298
4	North Dakota	$39,486
5	Indiana	$33,884
6	Iowa	$34,278
7	Wyoming	$45,921
8	Washington	$39,235
9	Nebraska	$34,385
10	Oregon	$36,658
11	Louisiana	$35,089
12	Wisconsin	$33,253
13	New Mexico	$35,974
14	Mississippi	$32,924
15	Hawaii	$35,447
16	Rhode Island	$33,094
17	Delaware	$36,196
18	Oklahoma	$33,751
19	Nevada	$35,025
20	Colorado	$36,877
21	South Dakota	$32,883
22	Kansas	$32,875
23	West Virginia	$33,084
24	Vermont	$34,286
25	Maryland	$36,563
26	Utah	$32,753
27	Texas	$33,107
28	Maine	$32,156
29	District of Columbia	$32,708
30	Illinois	$33,025
31	Connecticut	$32,661
32	Tennessee	$30,543
33	Ohio	$30,452
34	Pennsylvania	$31,348
35	New Hampshire	$31,485
36	New Jersey	$31,104
37	Arizona	$32,258
38	North Carolina	$30,874
39	California	$33,230
40	Kentucky	$29,903
41	Idaho	$32,045
42	Montana	$32,302
43	South Carolina	$30,823
44	Missouri	$30,923
45	Alabama	$29,976
46	Georgia	$29,349
47	Michigan	$29,215
48	Arkansas	$29,193
49	Virginia	$30,498
50	Florida	$28,396
51	New York	$29,473

Welder operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for welder operators?

What is the highest paying state for welder operators?

What is the worst state for welder operators?

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

Search for welder operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total welder operator jobs:	471
Average annual salary:	$37,791
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$44,000
Location Quotient:	1.72

Best states for a welder operator

10 best states for welder operators in 2025

1. Minnesota

2. Alaska

3. Massachusetts

4. North Dakota

5. Indiana

6. Iowa

7. Wyoming

8. Washington

9. Nebraska

10. Oregon