Welder salary: what welders actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 416,210 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What welders, cutters, solderers and brazers earn: the full range
The middle half of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers earn between $22.50 and $30.29 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $37.28 ($77,530 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $18.87.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.87 – $22.50 | $39,240 – $46,790 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.50 – $30.29 | $46,790 – $63,010 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $30.29 – $37.28 | $63,010 – $77,530 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Welder pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $38.87 | 50% above |
| Hawaii | $37.98 | 47% above |
| Connecticut | $31.19 | 21% above |
| Wyoming | $30.69 | 19% above |
| Washington | $30.30 | 17% above |
| Massachusetts | $30.08 | 16% above |
| New Hampshire | $29.98 | 16% above |
| Louisiana | $29.93 | 16% above |
| Maine | $29.92 | 16% above |
| North Dakota | $29.81 | 15% above |
| Nevada | $29.58 | 14% above |
| Vermont | $29.27 | 13% above |
| Maryland | $29.00 | 12% above |
| Minnesota | $28.98 | 12% above |
| District of Columbia | $28.93 | 12% above |
| New Mexico | $28.77 | 11% above |
| New Jersey | $28.58 | 11% above |
| Oregon | $28.58 | 11% above |
| Virginia | $28.45 | 10% above |
| New York | $28.43 | 10% above |
| Colorado | $28.17 | 9% above |
| Wisconsin | $28.08 | 9% above |
| Utah | $28.07 | 9% above |
| California | $27.91 | 8% above |
| Delaware | $27.54 | 7% above |
| Arizona | $26.73 | 3% above |
| Montana | $26.73 | 3% above |
| Iowa | $26.49 | 3% above |
| Texas | $25.64 | 1% below |
| Pennsylvania | $25.43 | 2% below |
| Nebraska | $25.10 | 3% below |
| Missouri | $24.98 | 3% below |
| Kentucky | $24.74 | 4% below |
| Illinois | $24.67 | 5% below |
| Mississippi | $24.57 | 5% below |
| Florida | $24.35 | 6% below |
| North Carolina | $24.32 | 6% below |
| Rhode Island | $24.32 | 6% below |
| Idaho | $24.30 | 6% below |
| Ohio | $24.20 | 6% below |
| Michigan | $24.03 | 7% below |
| South Carolina | $24.03 | 7% below |
| Indiana | $23.91 | 7% below |
| Oklahoma | $23.90 | 8% below |
| South Dakota | $23.77 | 8% below |
| Kansas | $23.75 | 8% below |
| West Virginia | $23.46 | 9% below |
| Alabama | $23.31 | 10% below |
| Georgia | $23.28 | 10% below |
| Tennessee | $23.10 | 11% below |
| Arkansas | $23.06 | 11% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $38.87 | $37.96 | #1 | 790 |
| Hawaii | $37.98 | $34.53 | #2 | 520 |
| Connecticut | $31.19 | $30.11 | #9 | 1,790 |
| Wyoming | $30.69 | $33.11 | #5 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $30.30 | $28.32 | #17 | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $30.08 | $28.43 | #15 | 2,830 |
| New Hampshire | $29.98 | $28.77 | #14 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $29.93 | $33.93 | #3 | 13,690 |
| Maine | $29.92 | $30.85 | #7 | 1,690 |
| North Dakota | $29.81 | $33.49 | #4 | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $29.58 | $29.58 | #12 | 1,600 |
| Vermont | $29.27 | $29.87 | #10 | 340 |
| Maryland | $29.00 | $27.62 | #23 | 2,850 |
| Minnesota | $28.98 | $29.39 | #13 | 9,270 |
| District of Columbia | $28.93 | $26.32 | #35 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $28.77 | $31.20 | #6 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $28.58 | $26.27 | #36 | 3,730 |
| Oregon | $28.58 | $27.64 | #22 | 5,240 |
| Virginia | $28.45 | $28.14 | #20 | 10,100 |
| New York | $28.43 | $26.35 | #34 | 8,310 |
| Colorado | $28.17 | $27.32 | #27 | 4,970 |
| Wisconsin | $28.08 | $29.84 | #11 | 15,320 |
| Utah | $28.07 | $28.38 | #16 | 4,440 |
| California | $27.91 | $25.21 | #45 | 26,060 |
| Delaware | $27.54 | $27.60 | #24 | 600 |
| Arizona | $26.73 | $26.54 | #30 | 7,270 |
| Montana | $26.73 | $28.26 | #18 | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $26.49 | $30.17 | #8 | 9,270 |
| Texas | $25.64 | $26.41 | #32 | 52,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.43 | $26.06 | #40 | 17,850 |
| Nebraska | $25.10 | $27.86 | #21 | 4,200 |
| Missouri | $24.98 | $27.51 | #25 | 10,600 |
| Kentucky | $24.74 | $27.43 | #26 | 6,630 |
| Illinois | $24.67 | $24.67 | #48 | 16,260 |
| Mississippi | $24.57 | $28.24 | #19 | 6,460 |
| Florida | $24.35 | $23.55 | #51 | 16,420 |
| North Carolina | $24.32 | $25.79 | #41 | 11,750 |
| Rhode Island | $24.32 | $23.77 | #50 | 2,300 |
| Idaho | $24.30 | $25.45 | #44 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $24.20 | $26.08 | #39 | 20,330 |
| Michigan | $24.03 | $24.98 | #47 | 13,330 |
| South Carolina | $24.03 | $25.65 | #42 | 7,380 |
| Indiana | $23.91 | $25.63 | #43 | 13,280 |
| Oklahoma | $23.90 | $27.22 | #28 | 9,960 |
| South Dakota | $23.77 | $26.83 | #29 | 3,250 |
| Kansas | $23.75 | $26.36 | #33 | 6,370 |
| West Virginia | $23.46 | $26.21 | #38 | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $23.31 | $26.25 | #37 | 12,450 |
| Georgia | $23.28 | $24.17 | #49 | 13,130 |
| Tennessee | $23.10 | $25.14 | #46 | 12,510 |
| Arkansas | $23.06 | $26.54 | #31 | 6,150 |
Welder wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.58 | $24.31 | 410,040 |
| 2000 | $13.13 | $24.55 | 413,720 |
| 2001 | $13.70 | $24.90 | 382,400 |
| 2002 | $14.02 | $25.09 | 361,970 |
| 2003 | $14.25 | $24.93 | 354,300 |
| 2004 | $14.72 | $25.09 | 344,970 |
| 2005 | $14.90 | $24.56 | 358,050 |
| 2006 | $15.10 | $24.11 | 376,630 |
| 2007 | $15.51 | $24.08 | 385,740 |
| 2008 | $16.13 | $24.12 | 392,520 |
| 2009 | $16.71 | $25.08 | 357,740 |
| 2010 | $17.04 | $25.16 | 314,260 |
| 2011 | $17.27 | $24.72 | 316,290 |
| 2012 | $17.45 | $24.47 | 329,710 |
| 2013 | $17.66 | $24.41 | 352,250 |
| 2014 | $17.99 | $24.47 | 369,610 |
| 2015 | $18.34 | $24.91 | 386,240 |
| 2016 | $18.94 | $25.41 | 382,730 |
| 2017 | $19.35 | $25.41 | 377,250 |
| 2018 | $19.89 | $25.50 | 389,190 |
| 2019 | $20.43 | $25.73 | 410,750 |
| 2020 | $21.25 | $26.43 | 397,550 |
| 2021 | $22.60 | $26.85 | 397,600 |
| 2022 | $22.86 | $25.15 | 408,990 |
| 2023 | $23.53 | $24.86 | 421,730 |
| 2024 | $24.52 | $25.17 | 424,040 |
| 2025 | $25.84 | $25.84 | 416,210 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median welder wage changed by +3.7% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for welders
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $37.58 | $44.36 | 3,690 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $36.08 | $42.90 | 670 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $35.06 | $42.36 | 970 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $34.48 | $48.73 | 740 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $31.93 | $37.90 | 1,060 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $31.85 | $43.09 | 3,230 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $31.76 | $31.76 | 610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.93 | $48.04 | 1,990 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $30.84 | $44.38 | 1,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $30.66 | $40.11 | 2,210 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $30.58 | $38.03 | 910 |
| Odessa, TX | $30.51 | $40.43 | 790 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30.50 | $30.50 | 2,220 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30.42 | $39.71 | 2,000 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $30.20 | $38.72 | 620 |
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects welders, cutters, solderers and brazers employment to change by +2.4% over 2025-35, with about 40,300 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare welder pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make?
The median welder earned $25.84 an hour, or $53,750 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 416,210 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $22.50 and $30.29 an hour.
How much do welders make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $18.87 at the 10th percentile to $37.28 at the 90th, with a median of $25.84. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice welder make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $18.87 to $22.50 an hour ($39,240 to $46,790 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays welders the most?
Alaska had the highest median at $38.87 an hour in May 2025, followed by Hawaii ($37.98) and Connecticut ($31.19). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are welder wages going up?
In today's dollars the median welder wage changed by +3.7% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $18.34 to $25.84.
Is welder a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $53,750 a year, a 90th percentile of $77,530, projected growth of +2.4% and about 40,300 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 51-4121 (Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.