The average salary for a welder in Iowa is around $55,090 per year.
Avg Salary
Welders earn an average yearly salary of $55,090.
Wages typically start from $45,590 and go up to $65,250.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Welder earnings by seniority
Top-level welder earnings begin at:
$31.37 per hour
$65,250 per year
Senior-level welder earnings begin at:
$28.94 per hour
$60,200 per year
Mid-level welder earnings begin at:
$26.49 per hour
$55,090 per year
Junior-level welder earnings begin at:
$23.20 per hour
$48,250 per year
Starting level welder earnings begin at:
$21.92 per hour
$45,590 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 Iowa. On average, they make less than water treatment plant operators but more than metal casters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $61K |
| Rigger salary | $62K |
| Chemical technician salary | $58K |
| Machinist salary | $58K |
| Glazier salary | $57K |
| Welder salary | $55K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $50K |
| Gem worker salary | $50K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $50K |
| Metal caster salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)