Welder salary in Indiana
Median $23.91 an hour for 13,280 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Indiana: the full range
Indiana ranks 43rd of 51 states for median welder pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.63). 13,280 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.46 – $21.94 | $38,410 – $45,620 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.94 – $29.19 | $45,620 – $60,710 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.19 – $36.00 | $60,710 – $74,880 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Indiana
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City | $18.17 | $25.68 | $35.16 | 220 | 7% above |
| Muncie | $21.18 | $25.65 | $32.55 | 200 | 7% above |
| Chicago | $18.81 | $25.31 | $35.79 | 9,320 | 6% above |
| Cincinnati | $18.97 | $24.99 | $35.56 | 3,160 | 5% above |
| Indianapolis | $18.12 | $24.55 | $36.60 | 2,790 | 3% above |
| Evansville | $17.98 | $24.50 | $36.41 | 350 | 2% above |
| Elkhart | $19.13 | $24.49 | $38.50 | 2,000 | 2% above |
| Louisville | $19.75 | $24.46 | $33.83 | 1,790 | 2% above |
| Kokomo | $17.48 | $23.97 | $39.63 | 110 | about the same as |
| Columbus | $17.66 | $23.71 | $32.11 | 310 | 1% below |
| Fort Wayne | $18.44 | $23.70 | $30.64 | 890 | 1% below |
| Lafayette | $18.95 | $23.57 | $29.70 | 560 | 1% below |
| South Bend | $18.48 | $22.92 | $31.02 | 360 | 4% below |
| Terre Haute | $18.16 | $22.16 | $32.43 | 350 | 7% below |
| Bloomington | $16.89 | $21.51 | $40.95 | 60 | 10% below |
Welder wages in Indiana over time
Table
| Year | Indiana $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.17 | $23.52 | $12.58 | 15,820 |
| 2000 | $13.33 | $24.92 | $13.13 | 16,300 |
| 2001 | $13.83 | $25.14 | $13.70 | 14,090 |
| 2002 | $14.35 | $25.68 | $14.02 | 13,120 |
| 2003 | $14.57 | $25.49 | $14.25 | 13,540 |
| 2004 | $14.75 | $25.14 | $14.72 | 12,910 |
| 2005 | $15.22 | $25.09 | $14.90 | 14,520 |
| 2006 | $15.37 | $24.54 | $15.10 | 14,050 |
| 2007 | $15.06 | $23.38 | $15.51 | 12,010 |
| 2008 | $15.52 | $23.21 | $16.13 | 12,300 |
| 2009 | $15.90 | $23.86 | $16.71 | 10,290 |
| 2010 | $16.10 | $23.77 | $17.04 | 8,810 |
| 2011 | $16.29 | $23.31 | $17.27 | 10,170 |
| 2012 | $16.50 | $23.14 | $17.45 | 10,790 |
| 2013 | $16.59 | $22.93 | $17.66 | 12,820 |
| 2014 | $16.69 | $22.70 | $17.99 | 13,240 |
| 2015 | $16.88 | $22.93 | $18.34 | 14,060 |
| 2016 | $17.58 | $23.58 | $18.94 | 14,040 |
| 2017 | $17.90 | $23.51 | $19.35 | 13,740 |
| 2018 | $18.51 | $23.73 | $19.89 | 13,870 |
| 2019 | $19.23 | $24.22 | $20.43 | 16,550 |
| 2020 | $19.92 | $24.78 | $21.25 | 15,610 |
| 2021 | $22.42 | $26.64 | $22.60 | 14,620 |
| 2022 | $21.69 | $23.86 | $22.86 | 14,480 |
| 2023 | $22.84 | $24.13 | $23.53 | 13,190 |
| 2024 | $23.30 | $23.91 | $24.52 | 13,260 |
| 2025 | $23.91 | $23.91 | $25.84 | 13,280 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Indiana changed by +4.3% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Indiana?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Indiana
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Indiana?
The median welder in Indiana earned $23.91 an hour ($49,730 a year) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $21.94–$29.19; the top 10% earn more than $36.00.
Where does Indiana rank for welder pay?
Indiana ranks 43rd of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $23.91 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.3, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Indiana?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Indiana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Indiana?
BLS counted 13,280 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Indiana in May 2025, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.55; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Indiana 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.