Welder salary in Iowa
Median $26.49 an hour for 9,270 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Iowa: the full range
Iowa ranks 28th of 51 states for median welder pay, and 8th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.17). 9,270 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.92 – $23.20 | $45,590 – $48,250 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.20 – $28.94 | $48,250 – $60,200 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.94 – $31.37 | $60,200 – $65,250 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Iowa
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $22.70 | $28.84 | $35.99 | 1,170 | 9% above |
| Ames | $19.53 | $28.15 | $32.27 | 170 | 6% above |
| Sioux City | $18.88 | $27.99 | $35.00 | 440 | 6% above |
| Iowa City | $22.35 | $27.78 | $36.26 | 130 | 5% above |
| Cedar Rapids | $21.90 | $27.28 | $31.82 | 560 | 3% above |
| Dubuque | $22.70 | $26.97 | $31.23 | 330 | 2% above |
| Omaha | $21.53 | $25.53 | $33.73 | 1,060 | 4% below |
| Waterloo | $22.26 | $24.56 | $30.75 | 540 | 7% below |
| Davenport | $18.88 | $23.38 | $34.59 | 1,240 | 12% below |
Welder wages in Iowa over time
Table
| Year | Iowa $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.24 | $23.65 | $12.58 | 7,960 |
| 2000 | $12.94 | $24.19 | $13.13 | 7,980 |
| 2001 | $13.11 | $23.83 | $13.70 | 7,320 |
| 2002 | $13.27 | $23.75 | $14.02 | 6,820 |
| 2003 | $13.51 | $23.64 | $14.25 | 6,430 |
| 2004 | $13.74 | $23.42 | $14.72 | 6,780 |
| 2005 | $13.94 | $22.98 | $14.90 | 8,310 |
| 2006 | $14.45 | $23.08 | $15.10 | 8,890 |
| 2007 | $14.85 | $23.06 | $15.51 | 9,330 |
| 2008 | $15.24 | $22.79 | $16.13 | 8,680 |
| 2009 | $15.36 | $23.05 | $16.71 | 7,530 |
| 2010 | $15.79 | $23.31 | $17.04 | 6,120 |
| 2011 | $16.22 | $23.21 | $17.27 | 6,610 |
| 2012 | $16.49 | $23.12 | $17.45 | 7,370 |
| 2013 | $16.62 | $22.97 | $17.66 | 8,570 |
| 2014 | $17.00 | $23.12 | $17.99 | 8,690 |
| 2015 | $17.14 | $23.28 | $18.34 | 8,900 |
| 2016 | $17.42 | $23.37 | $18.94 | 8,590 |
| 2017 | $17.86 | $23.46 | $19.35 | 8,370 |
| 2018 | $18.54 | $23.77 | $19.89 | 7,520 |
| 2019 | $18.99 | $23.91 | $20.43 | 7,700 |
| 2020 | $19.86 | $24.70 | $21.25 | 7,830 |
| 2021 | $22.42 | $26.64 | $22.60 | 8,400 |
| 2022 | $22.44 | $24.69 | $22.86 | 7,810 |
| 2023 | $23.33 | $24.65 | $23.53 | 8,490 |
| 2024 | $23.77 | $24.40 | $24.52 | 9,250 |
| 2025 | $26.49 | $26.49 | $25.84 | 9,270 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Iowa changed by +13.8% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Iowa?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Iowa
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Iowa?
The median welder in Iowa earned $26.49 an hour ($55,090 a year) in May 2025, 3% above the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $23.20–$28.94; the top 10% earn more than $31.37.
Where does Iowa rank for welder pay?
Iowa ranks 28th of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $26.49 an hour, and 8th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Iowa?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Iowa counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Iowa?
BLS counted 9,270 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Iowa in May 2025, 5.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.22; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa 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.