Welder salary in North Carolina
Median $24.32 an hour for 11,750 welders, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Welder pay in North Carolina: the full range
North Carolina ranks 37th of 51 states for median welder pay, and 41st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.79). 11,750 welders work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.53 – $21.83 | $38,540 – $45,400 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.83 – $29.26 | $45,400 – $60,870 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $29.26 – $34.25 | $60,870 – $71,240 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in North Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $22.36 | $30.13 | $30.78 | $37.59 | 3,740 | 24% above |
| Greenville | $17.39 | $27.58 | $31.20 | $34.70 | 230 | 13% above |
| Raleigh | $19.45 | $27.37 | $27.87 | $34.52 | 1,090 | 13% above |
| Charlotte | $19.74 | $26.96 | $27.71 | $36.50 | 3,370 | 11% above |
| Wilmington | $18.46 | $26.60 | $27.59 | $33.00 | 260 | 9% above |
| Greensboro | $19.29 | $26.05 | $28.04 | $33.92 | 1,180 | 7% above |
| Asheville | $19.18 | $25.26 | $26.18 | $34.58 | 290 | 4% above |
| Burlington | $18.66 | $24.40 | $26.18 | $31.15 | 120 | about the same as |
| Fayetteville | $18.36 | $23.93 | $26.01 | $33.24 | 80 | 2% below |
| Rocky Mount | $19.41 | $23.85 | $27.10 | $33.63 | 250 | 2% below |
| Durham | $20.03 | $23.69 | $24.27 | $33.18 | 290 | 3% below |
| Goldsboro | $17.92 | $23.23 | $26.25 | $28.35 | 140 | 4% below |
| Winston-Salem | $19.10 | $22.30 | $24.24 | $35.42 | 1,230 | 8% below |
| Hickory | $18.17 | $22.16 | $25.04 | $29.87 | 450 | 9% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Welder wages in North Carolina over time
Table
| Year | North Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.78 | $24.70 | $12.58 | 9,780 |
| 2000 | $13.31 | $24.88 | $13.13 | 10,750 |
| 2001 | $13.99 | $25.43 | $13.70 | 9,910 |
| 2002 | $14.05 | $25.14 | $14.02 | 8,890 |
| 2003 | $14.16 | $24.78 | $14.25 | 9,120 |
| 2004 | $14.52 | $24.75 | $14.72 | 9,450 |
| 2005 | $14.80 | $24.40 | $14.90 | 9,000 |
| 2006 | $15.12 | $24.15 | $15.10 | 9,360 |
| 2007 | $15.58 | $24.19 | $15.51 | 8,590 |
| 2008 | $15.86 | $23.72 | $16.13 | 8,960 |
| 2009 | $16.34 | $24.52 | $16.71 | 7,920 |
| 2010 | $16.61 | $24.52 | $17.04 | 6,890 |
| 2011 | $16.92 | $24.22 | $17.27 | 6,620 |
| 2012 | $17.12 | $24.01 | $17.45 | 7,150 |
| 2013 | $17.65 | $24.39 | $17.66 | 7,840 |
| 2014 | $17.90 | $24.34 | $17.99 | 8,060 |
| 2015 | $18.24 | $24.78 | $18.34 | 9,000 |
| 2016 | $18.49 | $24.80 | $18.94 | 9,050 |
| 2017 | $18.66 | $24.51 | $19.35 | 9,470 |
| 2018 | $19.04 | $24.41 | $19.89 | 10,020 |
| 2019 | $19.77 | $24.90 | $20.43 | 11,740 |
| 2020 | $20.28 | $25.23 | $21.25 | 11,980 |
| 2021 | $22.33 | $26.53 | $22.60 | 11,690 |
| 2022 | $22.69 | $24.96 | $22.86 | 12,690 |
| 2023 | $23.38 | $24.70 | $23.53 | 12,240 |
| 2024 | $23.97 | $24.60 | $24.52 | 12,020 |
| 2025 | $24.32 | $24.32 | $25.84 | 11,750 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in North Carolina changed by -1.8% over the last ten years of data and by -2.3% since 2019.
Are there more welder jobs in North Carolina?
Since 1999, the number of welders counted in North Carolina has changed by +20.1%, against +1.5% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +0.1%.
Table
| Year | North Carolina jobs | North Carolina index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 9,780 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 10,750 | 110 | 101 |
| 2001 | 9,910 | 101 | 93 |
| 2002 | 8,890 | 91 | 88 |
| 2003 | 9,120 | 93 | 86 |
| 2004 | 9,450 | 97 | 84 |
| 2005 | 9,000 | 92 | 87 |
| 2006 | 9,360 | 96 | 92 |
| 2007 | 8,590 | 88 | 94 |
| 2008 | 8,960 | 92 | 96 |
| 2009 | 7,920 | 81 | 87 |
| 2010 | 6,890 | 70 | 77 |
| 2011 | 6,620 | 68 | 77 |
| 2012 | 7,150 | 73 | 80 |
| 2013 | 7,840 | 80 | 86 |
| 2014 | 8,060 | 82 | 90 |
| 2015 | 9,000 | 92 | 94 |
| 2016 | 9,050 | 92 | 93 |
| 2017 | 9,470 | 97 | 92 |
| 2018 | 10,020 | 102 | 95 |
| 2019 | 11,740 | 120 | 100 |
| 2020 | 11,980 | 122 | 97 |
| 2021 | 11,690 | 120 | 97 |
| 2022 | 12,690 | 130 | 100 |
| 2023 | 12,240 | 125 | 103 |
| 2024 | 12,020 | 123 | 103 |
| 2025 | 11,750 | 120 | 102 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for welders in North Carolina
North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of welders in the state to change by +6.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 12,960 to 13,760, with about 1,370 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.4% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 11,750 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in North Carolina?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in North Carolina
More on North Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in North Carolina?
The median welder in North Carolina earned $24.32 an hour ($50,590 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $21.83–$29.26; the top 10% earn more than $34.25.
Where does North Carolina rank for welder pay?
North Carolina ranks 37th of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $24.32 an hour, and 41st after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in North Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most North Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in North Carolina?
BLS counted 11,750 welders in North Carolina in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.89; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is welder work growing in North Carolina?
The BLS employer survey count of welders in North Carolina went from 9,000 in 2015 to 11,750 in 2025, +30.6%, and +0.1% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +6.2% growth for welders between 2024 and 2034, from 12,960 to 13,760 jobs.
How many welder openings a year are there in North Carolina?
North Carolina projects about 1,370 openings a year for welders over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 40,300 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina and metro areas, SOC 51-4121. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.