SOC 51-4121 · May 2025
Welder Salary
Welders in the US earn a median of $53,750 a year ($27.29 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Welder pay climbed from $45,190 in 2019 to $56,760 in 2025, a +25.6% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$53,750
Half of all Welders in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+25.6% since 2019 · +3.0% YoY
Hourly
$27.29
Job growth 2025-35
+2.4%
US workers
416,210
BLS series
Annual median wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Welders is $39,240 – $77,530.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$39,240
25th
$46,790
Median
$53,750
75th
$63,010
90th
$77,530
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Welders. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $39,240 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $46,790 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $53,750 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $63,010 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $77,530 |
Geography
Welder pay by state
Welders earn the most in Alaska ($80,840, +50% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($47,970). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$53,750
Highest-paying states for welders
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | +50% | 790 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | +47% | 520 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | +21% | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | +19% | 1,850 |
| Washington | $63,020 | +17% | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | +16% | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | +16% | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | +16% | 13,690 |
| Maine | $62,220 | +16% | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | +15% | 2,590 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,840 | 790 |
| Hawaii | $79,000 | 520 |
| Connecticut | $64,880 | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $63,820 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $63,020 | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $62,570 | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $62,360 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $62,250 | 13,690 |
| Maine | $62,220 | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $62,000 | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $61,520 | 1,600 |
| Vermont | $60,890 | 340 |
| Maryland | $60,310 | 2,850 |
| Minnesota | $60,280 | 9,270 |
| D.C. | $60,180 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | 2,390 |
| Oregon | $59,450 | 5,240 |
| New Jersey | $59,440 | 3,730 |
| Virginia | $59,180 | 10,100 |
| New York | $59,140 | 8,310 |
| Colorado | $58,590 | 4,970 |
| Wisconsin | $58,410 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $58,380 | 4,440 |
| California | $58,060 | 26,060 |
| Delaware | $57,270 | 600 |
| Montana | $55,610 | 1,530 |
| Arizona | $55,600 | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $55,090 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $53,340 | 52,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 | 17,850 |
| Nebraska | $52,220 | 4,200 |
| Missouri | $51,950 | 10,600 |
| Kentucky | $51,470 | 6,630 |
| Illinois | $51,320 | 16,260 |
| Mississippi | $51,100 | 6,460 |
| Florida | $50,640 | 16,420 |
| North Carolina | $50,590 | 11,750 |
| Rhode Island | $50,580 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $50,530 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $50,340 | 20,330 |
| Michigan | $49,990 | 13,330 |
| South Carolina | $49,980 | 7,380 |
| Indiana | $49,730 | 13,280 |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 | 9,960 |
| South Dakota | $49,440 | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $49,410 | 6,370 |
| West Virginia | $48,810 | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $48,490 | 12,450 |
| Georgia | $48,430 | 13,130 |
| Tennessee | $48,040 | 12,510 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | 6,150 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Welders
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers join metal parts using heat, pressure, and filler materials. The trade includes structural, pipeline, manufacturing, and underwater welding specializations. Most welders complete vocational training (6-18 months) and earn industry certifications (AWS, ASME). Pay varies sharply by specialization: pipeline and underwater welders earn multiples of the OEWS median, while production welders typically fall near it.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $39,240 – $77,530. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Alaska, Hawaii and Connecticut. Pay in Alaska runs 1.7 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 40,300 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 2.4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Welder salary in the US?
How much does a Welder make an hour?
How much do Welders make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Welders the most?
Is the average Welder salary higher than the median?
Is Welder a growing career?
Open positions
Open Welder roles hiring now
Browse current Welder listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 51-4121. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.