Welder salary in Kentucky
Median $24.74 an hour for 6,630 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Kentucky: the full range
Kentucky ranks 33rd of 51 states for median welder pay, and 26th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.43). 6,630 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.89 – $22.30 | $39,300 – $46,380 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.30 – $28.80 | $46,380 – $59,900 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.80 – $33.18 | $59,900 – $69,010 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Kentucky
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $23.54 | $28.80 | $34.19 | 660 | 16% above |
| Lexington | $19.31 | $25.81 | $31.88 | 480 | 4% above |
| Bowling Green | $20.53 | $25.78 | $28.76 | 400 | 4% above |
| Clarksville | $19.36 | $25.47 | $30.05 | 490 | 3% above |
| Cincinnati | $18.97 | $24.99 | $35.56 | 3,160 | 1% above |
| Owensboro | $19.31 | $24.86 | $28.93 | 410 | about the same as |
| Louisville | $19.75 | $24.46 | $33.83 | 1,790 | 1% below |
| Paducah | $18.89 | $23.35 | $32.01 | 310 | 6% below |
| Huntington | $17.68 | $22.59 | $34.29 | 550 | 9% below |
Welder wages in Kentucky over time
Table
| Year | Kentucky $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.44 | $22.11 | $12.58 | 5,820 |
| 2000 | $12.30 | $23.00 | $13.13 | 5,830 |
| 2001 | $12.86 | $23.38 | $13.70 | 6,410 |
| 2002 | $13.30 | $23.80 | $14.02 | 6,100 |
| 2003 | $13.49 | $23.60 | $14.25 | 6,180 |
| 2004 | $14.03 | $23.91 | $14.72 | 6,100 |
| 2005 | $14.40 | $23.74 | $14.90 | 6,420 |
| 2006 | $14.40 | $23.00 | $15.10 | 6,710 |
| 2007 | $14.60 | $22.67 | $15.51 | 7,730 |
| 2008 | $14.78 | $22.10 | $16.13 | 7,980 |
| 2009 | $15.45 | $23.18 | $16.71 | 7,190 |
| 2010 | $15.81 | $23.34 | $17.04 | 5,800 |
| 2011 | $16.47 | $23.57 | $17.27 | 6,380 |
| 2012 | $16.56 | $23.22 | $17.45 | 6,430 |
| 2013 | $16.98 | $23.47 | $17.66 | 6,900 |
| 2014 | $17.09 | $23.24 | $17.99 | 6,590 |
| 2015 | $17.22 | $23.39 | $18.34 | 7,460 |
| 2016 | $17.98 | $24.12 | $18.94 | 7,640 |
| 2017 | $17.77 | $23.34 | $19.35 | 7,430 |
| 2018 | $18.40 | $23.59 | $19.89 | 6,680 |
| 2019 | $18.91 | $23.81 | $20.43 | 7,570 |
| 2020 | $19.70 | $24.51 | $21.25 | 6,780 |
| 2021 | $20.88 | $24.81 | $22.60 | 6,910 |
| 2022 | $21.73 | $23.90 | $22.86 | 7,300 |
| 2023 | $22.23 | $23.49 | $23.53 | 6,650 |
| 2024 | $23.68 | $24.30 | $24.52 | 7,360 |
| 2025 | $24.74 | $24.74 | $25.84 | 6,630 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Kentucky changed by +5.8% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Kentucky?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Kentucky
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Kentucky?
The median welder in Kentucky earned $24.74 an hour ($51,470 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $22.30–$28.80; the top 10% earn more than $33.18.
Where does Kentucky rank for welder pay?
Kentucky ranks 33rd of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $24.74 an hour, and 26th after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Kentucky?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Kentucky counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Kentucky?
BLS counted 6,630 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Kentucky in May 2025, 3.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky 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.