Welder salary in Ohio
Median $24.20 an hour for 20,330 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Ohio: the full range
Ohio ranks 40th of 51 states for median welder pay, and 39th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.08). 20,330 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.75 – $21.99 | $38,990 – $45,750 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.99 – $28.61 | $45,750 – $59,510 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.61 – $33.90 | $59,510 – $70,510 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Ohio
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | $21.45 | $41.25 | $41.25 | 470 | 70% above |
| Weirton | $18.14 | $26.64 | $41.88 | 180 | 10% above |
| Cincinnati | $18.97 | $24.99 | $35.56 | 3,160 | 3% above |
| Columbus | $19.28 | $24.64 | $33.88 | 2,190 | 2% above |
| Canton | $21.37 | $24.29 | $33.24 | 860 | about the same as |
| Dayton | $18.01 | $24.23 | $33.50 | 820 | about the same as |
| Akron | $20.13 | $24.20 | $37.41 | 1,170 | about the same as |
| Wheeling | $18.11 | $24.00 | $50.68 | 160 | 1% below |
| Toledo | $18.26 | $23.62 | $29.69 | 960 | 2% below |
| Cleveland | $18.91 | $23.58 | $33.00 | 3,510 | 3% below |
| Sandusky | $18.33 | $23.03 | $28.86 | 200 | 5% below |
| Springfield | $18.80 | $22.97 | $31.96 | 220 | 5% below |
| Youngstown | $18.55 | $22.93 | $29.27 | 680 | 5% below |
| Huntington | $17.68 | $22.59 | $34.29 | 550 | 7% below |
| Mansfield | $17.46 | $20.73 | $29.14 | 350 | 14% below |
Welder wages in Ohio over time
Table
| Year | Ohio $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.81 | $24.75 | $12.58 | 23,220 |
| 2000 | $13.77 | $25.74 | $13.13 | 21,660 |
| 2001 | $14.20 | $25.81 | $13.70 | 20,280 |
| 2002 | $14.32 | $25.63 | $14.02 | 18,400 |
| 2003 | $14.70 | $25.72 | $14.25 | 17,560 |
| 2004 | $14.89 | $25.38 | $14.72 | 16,450 |
| 2005 | $14.83 | $24.45 | $14.90 | 17,000 |
| 2006 | $15.16 | $24.21 | $15.10 | 16,850 |
| 2007 | $15.26 | $23.69 | $15.51 | 15,710 |
| 2008 | $15.70 | $23.48 | $16.13 | 14,770 |
| 2009 | $16.17 | $24.27 | $16.71 | 13,470 |
| 2010 | $16.33 | $24.11 | $17.04 | 12,140 |
| 2011 | $16.70 | $23.90 | $17.27 | 12,340 |
| 2012 | $16.97 | $23.80 | $17.45 | 13,010 |
| 2013 | $16.99 | $23.48 | $17.66 | 14,410 |
| 2014 | $17.25 | $23.46 | $17.99 | 15,560 |
| 2015 | $17.47 | $23.73 | $18.34 | 16,340 |
| 2016 | $18.17 | $24.37 | $18.94 | 17,280 |
| 2017 | $18.58 | $24.40 | $19.35 | 17,310 |
| 2018 | $18.94 | $24.28 | $19.89 | 18,220 |
| 2019 | $19.20 | $24.18 | $20.43 | 18,500 |
| 2020 | $19.91 | $24.77 | $21.25 | 16,840 |
| 2021 | $21.64 | $25.71 | $22.60 | 17,710 |
| 2022 | $22.29 | $24.52 | $22.86 | 18,240 |
| 2023 | $22.93 | $24.23 | $23.53 | 19,750 |
| 2024 | $23.75 | $24.37 | $24.52 | 20,110 |
| 2025 | $24.20 | $24.20 | $25.84 | 20,330 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Ohio changed by +2.0% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Ohio?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Ohio
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Ohio?
The median welder in Ohio earned $24.20 an hour ($50,340 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $21.99–$28.61; the top 10% earn more than $33.90.
Where does Ohio rank for welder pay?
Ohio ranks 40th of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $24.20 an hour, and 39th after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Ohio?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Ohio counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Ohio?
BLS counted 20,330 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Ohio in May 2025, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.37; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Ohio 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.