Welder salary: what welders actually make
Welders earned a median $25.84 an hour ($53,750 a year) in May 2025, across 416,210 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
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.
The middle half of welders 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. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master welder pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level welder earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master welder, foreman or specialist in the top quarter.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.87 – $22.50 | $39,240 – $46,790 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.50 – $30.29 | $46,790 – $63,010 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $30.29 – $37.28 | $63,010 – $77,530 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
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 and by +0.4% since 2019.
Are there more welder jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 416,210 welders in May 2025, +7.8% compared with 386,240 ten years earlier and +1.3% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 410,040 |
| 2000 | 413,720 |
| 2001 | 382,400 |
| 2002 | 361,970 |
| 2003 | 354,300 |
| 2004 | 344,970 |
| 2005 | 358,050 |
| 2006 | 376,630 |
| 2007 | 385,740 |
| 2008 | 392,520 |
| 2009 | 357,740 |
| 2010 | 314,260 |
| 2011 | 316,290 |
| 2012 | 329,710 |
| 2013 | 352,250 |
| 2014 | 369,610 |
| 2015 | 386,240 |
| 2016 | 382,730 |
| 2017 | 377,250 |
| 2018 | 389,190 |
| 2019 | 410,750 |
| 2020 | 397,550 |
| 2021 | 397,600 |
| 2022 | 408,990 |
| 2023 | 421,730 |
| 2024 | 424,040 |
| 2025 | 416,210 |
Of the 33 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 18 counted more welders in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Tennessee (+98.9%, 6,290 to 12,510); the weakest was Louisiana (-18.0%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 6,290 | 12,510 | +98.9% | +20.9% |
| Arizona | 4,860 | 7,270 | +49.6% | +33.2% |
| Virginia | 7,060 | 10,100 | +43.1% | +13.0% |
| Missouri | 7,660 | 10,600 | +38.4% | +1.0% |
| Alabama | 9,100 | 12,450 | +36.8% | +23.5% |
| Florida | 12,080 | 16,420 | +35.9% | +19.6% |
| North Carolina | 9,000 | 11,750 | +30.6% | +0.1% |
| Georgia | 10,180 | 13,130 | +29.0% | -11.3% |
| Arkansas | 4,770 | 6,150 | +28.9% | +6.8% |
| Ohio | 16,340 | 20,330 | +24.4% | +9.9% |
| South Carolina | 5,990 | 7,380 | +23.2% | +6.2% |
| Oregon | 4,540 | 5,240 | +15.4% | +2.3% |
| Michigan | 11,630 | 13,330 | +14.6% | -7.4% |
| Wisconsin | 14,190 | 15,320 | +8.0% | -2.6% |
| Kansas | 5,960 | 6,370 | +6.9% | +6.2% |
| Nebraska | 3,980 | 4,200 | +5.5% | -3.2% |
| Illinois | 15,530 | 16,260 | +4.7% | +20.9% |
| Iowa | 8,900 | 9,270 | +4.2% | +20.4% |
| Washington | 7,730 | 7,720 | -0.1% | -8.1% |
| South Dakota | 3,280 | 3,250 | -0.9% | +3.8% |
| Minnesota | 9,360 | 9,270 | -1.0% | -7.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 18,060 | 17,850 | -1.2% | +2.4% |
| New Jersey | 3,810 | 3,730 | -2.1% | -14.3% |
| New York | 8,510 | 8,310 | -2.4% | -18.6% |
| California | 27,070 | 26,060 | -3.7% | -10.1% |
| Mississippi | 6,740 | 6,460 | -4.2% | +8.8% |
| Texas | 55,020 | 52,000 | -5.5% | +2.4% |
| Indiana | 14,060 | 13,280 | -5.5% | -19.8% |
| Oklahoma | 10,640 | 9,960 | -6.4% | -12.6% |
| Colorado | 5,310 | 4,970 | -6.4% | +0.4% |
| Kentucky | 7,460 | 6,630 | -11.1% | -12.4% |
| Utah | 5,070 | 4,440 | -12.4% | -0.7% |
| Louisiana | 16,690 | 13,690 | -18.0% | +6.8% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the welder jobs are
South Dakota has the highest concentration of welders, 2.7× the national share, followed by Louisiana (2.6×) and Wyoming (2.5×). The lowest is District of Columbia at 0.1×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 3,250 | 7.1 | 2.7× |
| Louisiana | 13,690 | 7.1 | 2.6× |
| Wyoming | 1,850 | 6.6 | 2.5× |
| North Dakota | 2,590 | 6.0 | 2.3× |
| Iowa | 9,270 | 5.9 | 2.2× |
| Alabama | 12,450 | 5.9 | 2.2× |
| Oklahoma | 9,960 | 5.8 | 2.2× |
| Mississippi | 6,460 | 5.6 | 2.1× |
| Wisconsin | 15,320 | 5.2 | 1.9× |
| Arkansas | 6,150 | 4.7 | 1.8× |
| Rhode Island | 2,300 | 4.6 | 1.7× |
| Kansas | 6,370 | 4.4 | 1.7× |
| Indiana | 13,280 | 4.2 | 1.6× |
| Nebraska | 4,200 | 4.1 | 1.5× |
| Idaho | 3,300 | 3.9 | 1.4× |
| Tennessee | 12,510 | 3.8 | 1.4× |
| Texas | 52,000 | 3.7 | 1.4× |
| Ohio | 20,330 | 3.7 | 1.4× |
| Missouri | 10,600 | 3.6 | 1.4× |
| Kentucky | 6,630 | 3.3 | 1.2× |
| South Carolina | 7,380 | 3.2 | 1.2× |
| Minnesota | 9,270 | 3.1 | 1.2× |
| Michigan | 13,330 | 3.0 | 1.1× |
| Montana | 1,530 | 3.0 | 1.1× |
| West Virginia | 2,100 | 3.0 | 1.1× |
| Pennsylvania | 17,850 | 2.9 | 1.1× |
| New Mexico | 2,390 | 2.8 | 1.0× |
| Georgia | 13,130 | 2.7 | 1.0× |
| Illinois | 16,260 | 2.7 | 1.0× |
| Oregon | 5,240 | 2.7 | 1.0× |
| Maine | 1,690 | 2.6 | 1.0× |
| Utah | 4,440 | 2.6 | 1.0× |
| Virginia | 10,100 | 2.5 | 0.9× |
| Alaska | 790 | 2.4 | 0.9× |
| North Carolina | 11,750 | 2.4 | 0.9× |
| Arizona | 7,270 | 2.2 | 0.8× |
| Washington | 7,720 | 2.2 | 0.8× |
| Colorado | 4,970 | 1.7 | 0.7× |
| Florida | 16,420 | 1.6 | 0.6× |
| New Hampshire | 1,110 | 1.6 | 0.6× |
| California | 26,060 | 1.4 | 0.5× |
| Delaware | 600 | 1.2 | 0.5× |
| Vermont | 340 | 1.1 | 0.4× |
| Connecticut | 1,790 | 1.1 | 0.4× |
| Maryland | 2,850 | 1.0 | 0.4× |
| Nevada | 1,600 | 1.0 | 0.4× |
| New Jersey | 3,730 | 0.9 | 0.3× |
| New York | 8,310 | 0.9 | 0.3× |
| Hawaii | 520 | 0.8 | 0.3× |
| Massachusetts | 2,830 | 0.8 | 0.3× |
| District of Columbia | 280 | 0.4 | 0.1× |
Metros with the most welder jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 15,850 | $27.86 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 10,620 | $24.82 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9,320 | $25.31 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,850 | $27.00 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,780 | $29.66 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 5,440 | $27.18 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,240 | $23.86 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,630 | $28.07 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,600 | $29.75 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,580 | $24.91 |
Highest-paying metros for welders
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $37.58 | $41.39 | #1 | $44.36 | 3,690 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $36.08 | $35.13 | #5 | $42.90 | 670 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $35.06 | $40.81 | #2 | $42.36 | 970 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $34.48 | $32.65 | #10 | $48.73 | 740 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $31.93 | $31.33 | #22 | $37.90 | 1,060 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $31.85 | $28.67 | #45 | $43.09 | 3,230 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $31.76 | $36.76 | #3 | $31.76 | 610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.93 | $26.76 | #80 | $48.04 | 1,990 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $30.84 | $27.93 | #62 | $44.38 | 1,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $30.66 | $28.31 | #54 | $40.11 | 2,210 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $30.58 | $36.06 | #4 | $38.03 | 910 |
| Odessa, TX | $30.51 | $32.49 | #11 | $40.43 | 790 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30.50 | $33.89 | #7 | $30.50 | 2,220 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30.42 | $32.85 | #9 | $39.71 | 2,000 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $30.20 | $34.47 | #6 | $38.72 | 620 |
Metros with at least 500 welders. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 152 metros with a parity.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of welders to change by +2.4% over 2025-35, from 437,700 to 448,100, with about 40,300 openings a year.
Of those openings, 1,100 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 39,200 from replacement: 11,900 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 27,300 for people who move to another occupation.
Productivity change - share decreases as welding robotics and other automated welding methods improve productivity, thus decreasing labor requirements.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Rhode Island projects the fastest growth for welders at +27.4%; by openings, Texas (6,300 a year), California (2,890 a year), Ohio (2,050 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 3,910 | 4,980 | +27.4% | 540 |
| Arizona | 8,670 | 10,210 | +17.8% | 1,060 |
| Nevada | 2,270 | 2,660 | +16.8% | 280 |
| Montana | 1,470 | 1,680 | +14.4% | 170 |
| Georgia | 14,710 | 16,770 | +14.0% | 1,720 |
| Wyoming | 2,020 | 2,280 | +13.1% | 230 |
| Idaho | 3,920 | 4,430 | +12.9% | 450 |
| Florida | 17,510 | 19,680 | +12.4% | 2,010 |
| South Carolina | 7,960 | 8,930 | +12.1% | 910 |
| Connecticut | 2,430 | 2,690 | +10.7% | 270 |
| Alabama | 13,600 | 15,010 | +10.3% | 1,520 |
| South Dakota | 3,780 | 4,160 | +10.1% | 420 |
| Mississippi | 6,950 | 7,620 | +9.7% | 770 |
| Tennessee | 14,050 | 15,360 | +9.3% | 1,550 |
| Delaware | 560 | 610 | +9.1% | 60 |
| Utah | 4,440 | 4,830 | +8.8% | 490 |
| North Dakota | 2,820 | 3,050 | +8.1% | 310 |
| Iowa | 9,100 | 9,800 | +7.7% | 980 |
| Oregon | 5,470 | 5,880 | +7.6% | 590 |
| Colorado | 4,750 | 5,090 | +7.1% | 520 |
| Nebraska | 4,440 | 4,760 | +7.1% | 480 |
| Texas | 59,130 | 63,160 | +6.8% | 6,300 |
| Maryland | 3,110 | 3,310 | +6.5% | 330 |
| New Hampshire | 1,100 | 1,170 | +6.4% | 120 |
| Louisiana | 13,320 | 14,160 | +6.3% | 1,410 |
| North Carolina | 12,960 | 13,760 | +6.2% | 1,370 |
| Arkansas | 7,710 | 8,180 | +6.1% | 820 |
| New Mexico | 2,540 | 2,700 | +6.1% | 270 |
| Wisconsin | 17,660 | 18,700 | +5.9% | 1,860 |
| Kansas | 6,730 | 7,100 | +5.4% | 700 |
| District of Columbia | 230 | 240 | +5.3% | 20 |
| West Virginia | 2,190 | 2,300 | +5.1% | 230 |
| Kentucky | 7,820 | 8,210 | +5.0% | 810 |
| Virginia | 11,060 | 11,580 | +4.6% | 1,140 |
| Missouri | 11,650 | 12,160 | +4.4% | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | 3,200 | 3,340 | +4.2% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,620 | 18,270 | +3.7% | 1,800 |
| New Jersey | 3,500 | 3,620 | +3.5% | 360 |
| California | 28,500 | 29,400 | +3.2% | 2,890 |
| Vermont | 360 | 380 | +2.7% | 40 |
| Indiana | 13,820 | 14,140 | +2.3% | 1,380 |
| Washington | 8,440 | 8,600 | +1.9% | 860 |
| Hawaii | 670 | 680 | +1.5% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | 10,520 | 10,660 | +1.4% | 1,040 |
| Maine | 2,110 | 2,130 | +1.0% | 210 |
| Minnesota | 10,000 | 10,080 | +0.9% | 980 |
| Ohio | 21,260 | 21,260 | 0.0% | 2,050 |
| Illinois | 18,180 | 17,850 | -1.8% | 1,710 |
| Alaska | 860 | 840 | -2.2% | 80 |
| Michigan | 14,210 | 13,860 | -2.4% | 1,320 |
| New York | 9,490 | 8,960 | -5.6% | 840 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare welder pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
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.
Are welder jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 416,210 welders in May 2025, +7.8% compared with ten years earlier and +1.3% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +2.4% growth over 2025-35 with about 40,300 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most welders?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put Texas (6,300 a year, +6.8% growth), California (2,890 a year, +3.2% growth), Ohio (2,050 a year, 0.0% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are welders most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, South Dakota has the highest concentration at 2.7× the national share, then Louisiana (2.6×) and Wyoming (2.5×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 51-4121 (Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.