Welder salary in Nebraska
Median $25.10 an hour for 4,200 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Nebraska: the full range
Nebraska ranks 31st of 51 states for median welder pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.86). 4,200 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.08 – $23.00 | $43,850 – $47,830 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.00 – $29.72 | $47,830 – $61,810 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.72 – $32.16 | $61,810 – $66,900 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Nebraska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $18.88 | $27.99 | $35.00 | 440 | 12% above |
| Lincoln | $21.92 | $25.96 | $30.44 | 820 | 3% above |
| Omaha | $21.53 | $25.53 | $33.73 | 1,060 | 2% above |
| Grand Island | $20.68 | $23.53 | $29.26 | 170 | 6% below |
Welder wages in Nebraska over time
Table
| Year | Nebraska $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.07 | $21.39 | $12.58 | 3,360 |
| 2000 | $11.85 | $22.15 | $13.13 | 3,700 |
| 2001 | $12.39 | $22.52 | $13.70 | 3,690 |
| 2002 | $12.81 | $22.92 | $14.02 | 3,240 |
| 2003 | $12.84 | $22.47 | $14.25 | 3,370 |
| 2004 | $13.27 | $22.62 | $14.72 | 3,520 |
| 2005 | $12.94 | $21.33 | $14.90 | 4,040 |
| 2006 | $13.55 | $21.64 | $15.10 | 3,890 |
| 2007 | $13.95 | $21.66 | $15.51 | 4,000 |
| 2008 | $15.00 | $22.43 | $16.13 | 4,360 |
| 2009 | $15.13 | $22.70 | $16.71 | 4,380 |
| 2010 | $15.06 | $22.23 | $17.04 | 3,520 |
| 2011 | $15.33 | $21.94 | $17.27 | 3,350 |
| 2012 | $16.03 | $22.48 | $17.45 | 3,840 |
| 2013 | $16.51 | $22.82 | $17.66 | 4,290 |
| 2014 | $16.82 | $22.87 | $17.99 | 4,050 |
| 2015 | $17.28 | $23.47 | $18.34 | 3,980 |
| 2016 | $18.12 | $24.31 | $18.94 | 4,100 |
| 2017 | $19.01 | $24.97 | $19.35 | 4,050 |
| 2018 | $19.51 | $25.01 | $19.89 | 4,450 |
| 2019 | $19.80 | $24.93 | $20.43 | 4,340 |
| 2020 | $20.23 | $25.16 | $21.25 | 3,800 |
| 2021 | $22.42 | $26.64 | $22.60 | 4,120 |
| 2022 | $21.96 | $24.16 | $22.86 | 3,990 |
| 2023 | $23.32 | $24.64 | $23.53 | 3,810 |
| 2024 | $24.31 | $24.95 | $24.52 | 3,990 |
| 2025 | $25.10 | $25.10 | $25.84 | 4,200 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Nebraska changed by +6.9% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Nebraska?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Nebraska
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Nebraska?
The median welder in Nebraska earned $25.10 an hour ($52,220 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $23.00–$29.72; the top 10% earn more than $32.16.
Where does Nebraska rank for welder pay?
Nebraska ranks 31st of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $25.10 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Nebraska?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Nebraska counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Nebraska?
BLS counted 4,200 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Nebraska in May 2025, 4.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.53; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nebraska 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.