Welder vs plumber: who earns more
Pay, range, growth and a state-by-state winner map, from BLS May 2025 data.
Welder vs plumber: the numbers
| Welder | Plumber | |
|---|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $25.84 | $30.67 |
| Median annual pay | $53,750 | $63,800 |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $18.87 | $21.22 |
| 90th percentile (top) | $37.28 | $52.13 |
| Jobs nationwide | 416,210 | 465,840 |
| Projected growth 2025-35 | +2.4% | +6.8% |
| Openings per year | 40,300 | 42,000 |
| 10-year real wage change | +3.7% | -7.2% |
| States where this trade pays more | 2 | 49 |
Which pays more where you live
| State | Welder $/hr | Plumber $/hr | Pays more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $30.69 | $30.01 | Welder |
| Hawaii | $37.98 | $37.53 | Welder |
| Nevada | $29.58 | $29.62 | Plumber |
| Arkansas | $23.06 | $23.39 | Plumber |
| Vermont | $29.27 | $29.89 | Plumber |
| Virginia | $28.45 | $29.07 | Plumber |
| Louisiana | $29.93 | $30.62 | Plumber |
| North Dakota | $29.81 | $30.56 | Plumber |
| New Mexico | $28.77 | $29.54 | Plumber |
| Maine | $29.92 | $30.77 | Plumber |
| Idaho | $24.30 | $25.18 | Plumber |
| South Dakota | $23.77 | $24.82 | Plumber |
| Florida | $24.35 | $25.44 | Plumber |
| Utah | $28.07 | $29.76 | Plumber |
| South Carolina | $24.03 | $25.93 | Plumber |
| Mississippi | $24.57 | $26.67 | Plumber |
| New Hampshire | $29.98 | $32.12 | Plumber |
| Colorado | $28.17 | $30.40 | Plumber |
| Maryland | $29.00 | $31.44 | Plumber |
| Arizona | $26.73 | $29.84 | Plumber |
| North Carolina | $24.32 | $27.44 | Plumber |
| Texas | $25.64 | $28.77 | Plumber |
| Delaware | $27.54 | $31.11 | Plumber |
| West Virginia | $23.46 | $27.39 | Plumber |
| Oklahoma | $23.90 | $27.87 | Plumber |
| Nebraska | $25.10 | $29.31 | Plumber |
| Georgia | $23.28 | $27.50 | Plumber |
| Iowa | $26.49 | $30.72 | Plumber |
| Alabama | $23.31 | $28.21 | Plumber |
| Tennessee | $23.10 | $28.17 | Plumber |
| Connecticut | $31.19 | $37.16 | Plumber |
| Kentucky | $24.74 | $30.84 | Plumber |
| Ohio | $24.20 | $30.45 | Plumber |
| Alaska | $38.87 | $45.15 | Plumber |
| California | $27.91 | $35.01 | Plumber |
| Missouri | $24.98 | $32.11 | Plumber |
| Pennsylvania | $25.43 | $32.73 | Plumber |
| Kansas | $23.75 | $31.36 | Plumber |
| Washington | $30.30 | $38.96 | Plumber |
| New York | $28.43 | $37.26 | Plumber |
| New Jersey | $28.58 | $37.61 | Plumber |
| Wisconsin | $28.08 | $39.04 | Plumber |
| Montana | $26.73 | $38.44 | Plumber |
| Rhode Island | $24.32 | $36.77 | Plumber |
| Indiana | $23.91 | $36.69 | Plumber |
| Michigan | $24.03 | $38.56 | Plumber |
| Massachusetts | $30.08 | $45.14 | Plumber |
| Minnesota | $28.98 | $45.39 | Plumber |
| Oregon | $28.58 | $46.66 | Plumber |
| District of Columbia | $28.93 | $48.57 | Plumber |
| Illinois | $24.67 | $48.05 | Plumber |
Questions this page answers
Who makes more, welders or plumbers?
Nationally, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters: a median of $30.67 an hour against $25.84 for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, a gap of $4.83 an hour in May 2025. Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers earn more in 2 states, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in 49.
Which has the better outlook, welder or plumber?
BLS projects +2.4% growth for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers and +6.8% for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters over 2025-35, with 40,300 and 42,000 openings a year respectively.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections; CPI-U.