Welder earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level welder earnings begin at:

$36.33 per hour

$75,560 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level welder earnings begin at:

$29.63 per hour

$61,630 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level welder earnings begin at:

$27.54 per hour

$57,270 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level welder earnings begin at:

$23.96 per hour

$49,830 per year

10th percentile

Starting level welder earnings begin at:

$21.90 per hour

$45,550 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Welder salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Alaska $80,840
Hawaii $79,000
Connecticut $64,880
Wyoming $63,820
Washington $63,020
Massachusetts $62,570
New Hampshire $62,360
Louisiana $62,250
Maine $62,220
North Dakota $62,000
Nevada $61,520
Vermont $60,890
Maryland $60,310
Minnesota $60,280
District of Columbia $60,180
New Mexico $59,840
Oregon $59,450
New Jersey $59,440
Virginia $59,180
New York $59,140
Colorado $58,590
Wisconsin $58,410
Utah $58,380
California $58,060
Delaware $57,270
Montana $55,610
Arizona $55,600
Iowa $55,090
Texas $53,340
Virgin Islands, U.S. $53,290
Pennsylvania $52,900
Nebraska $52,220
Missouri $51,950
Kentucky $51,470
Illinois $51,320
Mississippi $51,100
Florida $50,640
North Carolina $50,590
Rhode Island $50,580
Idaho $50,530
Ohio $50,340
Michigan $49,990
South Carolina $49,980
Indiana $49,730
Oklahoma $49,720
South Dakota $49,440
Kansas $49,410
West Virginia $48,810
Alabama $48,490
Georgia $48,430
Tennessee $48,040
Arkansas $47,970
Guam $37,270
Puerto Rico $22,650

How much does a Welder earn?

Welders who keep up to date on the latest technology are in high demand with employers. The American Welding Society provides certification for welders, which can also improve employment prospects. It is interesting to note that welding skills are highly transferable, so a welder can move from one area or one employer to another in pursuit of a better salary or a more suitable place of employment. Two of the highest paying employers are electrical and gas utilities, at $61,110 and $59,620 respectively. Most employers are in the construction and manufacturing sectors, where pay averages between $35,000 and $37,000.

Welders in the same state can take home vastly different paycheques depending on their particular skill set. Industry booms often account for large wage discrepancies. For example, the recent boom in domestic energy production has increased the demand for welders to build, maintain and repair rigs or pipelines in states like Texas and North Dakota. In North Dakota, welders in the top earning bracket make about $39 per hour, yet the median wage hovers around $21 per hour.

The following list, compiled by Economic Modeling Services International, shows the ten U.S. states that offer the highest wages for welders (2014):

Alaska - $33.97 Median / $43.83 Top 10%
Hawaii - $31.10 Median / $39.75 Top 10%
North Dakota - $20.68 Median / $39.05 Top 10%
West Virginia - $18.21 Median / $37.88 Top 10%
Wyoming - $22.18 Median / $35.23 Top 10%
Nevada - $17.73 Median / $34.38 Top 10%
New Mexico - $19.10 Median / $33.99 Top 10%
Maryland - $20.51 Median / $33.55 Top 10%
California - $18.54 Median / $31.56 Top 10%
Delaware - $21.74 Median / $31.32 Top 10%

How do welder salaries compare to similar careers?

Welders earn about the same as related careers in Delaware. On average, they make less than chemical technicians but more than metal workers.

Career Median Salary
Chemical technician salary $79K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $76K
Water treatment plant operator salary $65K
Machinist salary $63K
Sheet metal worker salary $61K
Welder salary $57K
Fork lift operator salary $60K
Machine feeder salary $44K
Molding and casting worker salary $48K
Metal worker salary $45K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)