Welder salary in Oregon
Median $28.58 an hour for 5,240 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in Oregon: the full range
Oregon ranks 18th of 51 states for median welder pay, and 22nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.64). 5,240 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.15 – $23.89 | $46,070 – $49,690 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.89 – $32.00 | $49,690 – $66,570 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $32.00 – $38.09 | $66,570 – $79,230 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in Oregon
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $22.59 | $30.19 | $37.65 | 280 | 6% above |
| Portland | $23.10 | $29.83 | $40.36 | 3,300 | 4% above |
| Corvallis | $19.23 | $27.57 | $35.92 | 60 | 4% below |
| Salem | $22.17 | $27.49 | $34.93 | 410 | 4% below |
| Bend | $22.93 | $27.36 | $34.42 | 330 | 4% below |
| Eugene | $21.90 | $26.29 | $34.48 | 530 | 8% below |
| Grants Pass | $22.69 | $24.68 | $30.96 | 100 | 14% below |
| Medford | $21.95 | $24.17 | $31.77 | 200 | 15% below |
Welder wages in Oregon over time
Table
| Year | Oregon $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.23 | $25.57 | $12.58 | 5,340 |
| 2000 | $14.25 | $26.64 | $13.13 | 5,820 |
| 2001 | $14.84 | $26.98 | $13.70 | 4,900 |
| 2002 | $14.92 | $26.70 | $14.02 | 5,170 |
| 2003 | $15.28 | $26.74 | $14.25 | 4,970 |
| 2004 | $15.15 | $25.82 | $14.72 | 4,350 |
| 2005 | $15.28 | $25.19 | $14.90 | 5,120 |
| 2006 | $15.44 | $24.66 | $15.10 | 5,130 |
| 2007 | $15.79 | $24.52 | $15.51 | 5,570 |
| 2008 | $16.44 | $24.58 | $16.13 | 5,640 |
| 2009 | $17.19 | $25.80 | $16.71 | 4,960 |
| 2010 | $17.05 | $25.17 | $17.04 | 4,020 |
| 2011 | $16.98 | $24.30 | $17.27 | 3,570 |
| 2012 | $17.75 | $24.89 | $17.45 | 3,520 |
| 2013 | $18.94 | $26.17 | $17.66 | 3,910 |
| 2014 | $19.20 | $26.11 | $17.99 | 4,810 |
| 2015 | $19.75 | $26.83 | $18.34 | 4,540 |
| 2016 | $20.33 | $27.27 | $18.94 | 4,120 |
| 2017 | $20.96 | $27.53 | $19.35 | 3,700 |
| 2018 | $21.30 | $27.31 | $19.89 | 4,670 |
| 2019 | $22.42 | $28.23 | $20.43 | 5,120 |
| 2020 | $23.01 | $28.62 | $21.25 | 5,010 |
| 2021 | $23.00 | $27.33 | $22.60 | 4,250 |
| 2022 | $23.64 | $26.01 | $22.86 | 5,040 |
| 2023 | $26.43 | $27.93 | $23.53 | 5,500 |
| 2024 | $28.17 | $28.91 | $24.52 | 4,870 |
| 2025 | $28.58 | $28.58 | $25.84 | 5,240 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in Oregon changed by +6.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Oregon?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Oregon
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in Oregon?
The median welder in Oregon earned $28.58 an hour ($59,450 a year) in May 2025, 11% above the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $23.89–$32.00; the top 10% earn more than $38.09.
Where does Oregon rank for welder pay?
Oregon ranks 18th of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $28.58 an hour, and 22nd after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in Oregon?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most Oregon counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in Oregon?
BLS counted 5,240 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in Oregon in May 2025, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Oregon 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.