Welder salary in Arkansas
Median $23.06 an hour for 6,150 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Arkansas: the full range
Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for median welder pay, and 31st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.54). 6,150 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.97 – $20.65 | $37,380 – $42,950 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $20.65 – $26.58 | $42,950 – $55,280 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $26.58 – $30.21 | $55,280 – $62,830 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Arkansas
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | $18.56 | $24.95 | $28.75 | 340 | 8% above |
| Memphis | $18.57 | $23.37 | $31.38 | 1,590 | 1% above |
| Fayetteville | $18.07 | $22.95 | $29.77 | 570 | about the same as |
| Little Rock | $18.43 | $22.81 | $28.97 | 1,190 | 1% below |
| Fort Smith | $17.74 | $22.42 | $27.95 | 400 | 3% below |
| Hot Springs | $17.09 | $22.31 | $27.86 | 110 | 3% below |
| Texarkana | $15.86 | $20.15 | $29.80 | 590 | 13% below |
Welder wages in Arkansas over time
Table
| Year | Arkansas $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $10.90 | $21.06 | $12.58 | 7,620 |
| 2000 | $10.76 | $20.12 | $13.13 | 6,720 |
| 2001 | $11.68 | $21.23 | $13.70 | 6,110 |
| 2002 | $11.90 | $21.30 | $14.02 | 6,440 |
| 2003 | $12.17 | $21.29 | $14.25 | 6,240 |
| 2004 | $12.52 | $21.34 | $14.72 | 5,290 |
| 2005 | $12.71 | $20.95 | $14.90 | 5,450 |
| 2006 | $12.86 | $20.54 | $15.10 | 6,030 |
| 2007 | $13.48 | $20.93 | $15.51 | 5,590 |
| 2008 | $13.84 | $20.69 | $16.13 | 5,880 |
| 2009 | $14.69 | $22.04 | $16.71 | 5,290 |
| 2010 | $15.05 | $22.22 | $17.04 | 4,670 |
| 2011 | $15.86 | $22.70 | $17.27 | 4,760 |
| 2012 | $16.06 | $22.52 | $17.45 | 4,910 |
| 2013 | $16.28 | $22.50 | $17.66 | 4,780 |
| 2014 | $16.14 | $21.95 | $17.99 | 4,300 |
| 2015 | $16.31 | $22.15 | $18.34 | 4,770 |
| 2016 | $16.97 | $22.76 | $18.94 | 4,800 |
| 2017 | $17.61 | $23.13 | $19.35 | 4,770 |
| 2018 | $18.02 | $23.10 | $19.89 | 5,260 |
| 2019 | $18.22 | $22.94 | $20.43 | 5,760 |
| 2020 | $18.28 | $22.74 | $21.25 | 5,260 |
| 2021 | $18.16 | $21.58 | $22.60 | 5,260 |
| 2022 | $19.10 | $21.01 | $22.86 | 5,580 |
| 2023 | $21.62 | $22.84 | $23.53 | 6,190 |
| 2024 | $22.64 | $23.24 | $24.52 | 7,240 |
| 2025 | $23.06 | $23.06 | $25.84 | 6,150 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Arkansas changed by +4.1% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Arkansas?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Arkansas
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Arkansas?
The median welder in Arkansas earned $23.06 an hour ($47,970 a year) in May 2025, 11% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $20.65–$26.58; the top 10% earn more than $30.21.
Where does Arkansas rank for welder pay?
Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $23.06 an hour, and 31st after adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 86.9, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Arkansas?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Arkansas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Arkansas?
BLS counted 6,150 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Arkansas in May 2025, 4.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.76; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Arkansas and metro areas, SOC 51-4121.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.