Welder salary

Welders in the U.S. earn a median $53,750 a year.

Median pay
$53,750
Median hourly
$25.84
Typical range
$39,240–$77,530
Jobs
416,210

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for welders in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$39,240
25th$46,790
Median$53,750
75th$63,010
90th (top earners)$77,530

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$57,94015,850
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$51,63010,620
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$52,6509,320
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$56,1607,850
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$61,6805,780
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$56,5405,440
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$49,6305,240
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$58,3804,630
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$61,8804,600
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$51,8104,580

Welder salary by state

  1. 1Alaska$80,840
  2. 2Hawaii$79,000
  3. 3Connecticut$64,880
  4. 4Wyoming$63,820
  5. 5Washington$63,020
  6. 6Massachusetts$62,570
  7. 7New Hampshire$62,360
  8. 8Louisiana$62,250
  9. 9Maine$62,220
  10. 10North Dakota$62,000
  11. 11Nevada$61,520
  12. 12Vermont$60,890
  13. 13Maryland$60,310
  14. 14Minnesota$60,280
  15. –District of Columbia$60,180
  16. 15New Mexico$59,840
  17. 16Oregon$59,450
  18. 17New Jersey$59,440
  19. 18Virginia$59,180
  20. 19New York$59,140
  21. 20Colorado$58,590
  22. 21Wisconsin$58,410
  23. 22Utah$58,380
  24. 23California$58,060
  25. 24Delaware$57,270
  26. 25Montana$55,610
  27. 26Arizona$55,600
  28. 27Iowa$55,090
  29. 28Texas$53,340
  30. 29Pennsylvania$52,900
  31. 30Nebraska$52,220
  32. 31Missouri$51,950
  33. 32Kentucky$51,470
  34. 33Illinois$51,320
  35. 34Mississippi$51,100
  36. 35Florida$50,640
  37. 36North Carolina$50,590
  38. 37Rhode Island$50,580
  39. 38Idaho$50,530
  40. 39Ohio$50,340
  41. 40Michigan$49,990
  42. 41South Carolina$49,980
  43. 42Indiana$49,730
  44. 43Oklahoma$49,720
  45. 44South Dakota$49,440
  46. 45Kansas$49,410
  47. 46West Virginia$48,810
  48. 47Alabama$48,490
  49. 48Georgia$48,430
  50. 49Tennessee$48,040
  51. 50Arkansas$47,970
  52. –Puerto Rico$30,220

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Welding schoolsHow to become a welder

Frequently asked questions

How much do welders make?

The median pay for welders in the U.S. is $53,750 a year ($25.84 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,240, and the top 10% earn over $77,530.

Which states pay welders the most?

The top-paying states are Alaska ($80,840), Hawaii ($79,000), Connecticut ($64,880), Wyoming ($63,820), Washington ($63,020).

How can a welder earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a welder covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, SOC 51-4121). Figures exclude self-employed workers.