Welder salary in West Virginia
Median $23.46 an hour for 2,100 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Welder pay in West Virginia: the full range
West Virginia ranks 47th of 51 states for median welder pay, and 38th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.21). 2,100 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.65 – $19.18 | $36,700 – $39,900 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $19.18 – $28.93 | $39,900 – $60,170 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.93 – $35.47 | $60,170 – $73,780 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Welder pay by metro in West Virginia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $21.71 | $29.17 | $55.02 | 2,000 | 24% above |
| Hagerstown | $19.24 | $26.93 | $36.65 | 130 | 15% above |
| Weirton | $18.14 | $26.64 | $41.88 | 180 | 14% above |
| Winchester | $19.19 | $26.29 | $30.91 | 120 | 12% above |
| Wheeling | $18.11 | $24.00 | $50.68 | 160 | 2% above |
| Parkersburg | $17.40 | $23.72 | $31.98 | 90 | 1% above |
| Beckley | $16.98 | $23.54 | $39.26 | 120 | about the same as |
| Charleston | $17.81 | $23.08 | $36.26 | 190 | 2% below |
| Morgantown | $17.31 | $22.91 | $35.73 | 140 | 2% below |
| Huntington | $17.68 | $22.59 | $34.29 | 550 | 4% below |
Welder wages in West Virginia over time
Table
| Year | West Virginia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.01 | $23.21 | $12.58 | 3,090 |
| 2000 | $12.45 | $23.28 | $13.13 | 3,030 |
| 2001 | $13.21 | $24.01 | $13.70 | 2,880 |
| 2002 | $13.63 | $24.39 | $14.02 | 2,600 |
| 2003 | $14.05 | $24.58 | $14.25 | 2,490 |
| 2004 | $13.30 | $22.67 | $14.72 | 2,530 |
| 2005 | $13.74 | $22.65 | $14.90 | 2,830 |
| 2006 | $13.93 | $22.25 | $15.10 | 3,050 |
| 2007 | $14.84 | $23.04 | $15.51 | 3,380 |
| 2008 | $15.12 | $22.61 | $16.13 | 3,120 |
| 2009 | $15.96 | $23.95 | $16.71 | 3,090 |
| 2010 | $16.42 | $24.24 | $17.04 | 2,420 |
| 2011 | $16.53 | $23.66 | $17.27 | 2,600 |
| 2012 | $17.22 | $24.15 | $17.45 | 2,650 |
| 2013 | $18.21 | $25.17 | $17.66 | 2,650 |
| 2014 | $18.90 | $25.70 | $17.99 | 2,550 |
| 2015 | $18.86 | $25.62 | $18.34 | 2,780 |
| 2016 | $18.63 | $24.99 | $18.94 | 2,430 |
| 2017 | $19.73 | $25.91 | $19.35 | 2,210 |
| 2018 | $19.96 | $25.59 | $19.89 | 2,520 |
| 2019 | $21.08 | $26.55 | $20.43 | 2,710 |
| 2020 | $21.77 | $27.08 | $21.25 | 2,370 |
| 2021 | $22.23 | $26.41 | $22.60 | 1,960 |
| 2022 | $21.33 | $23.46 | $22.86 | 2,070 |
| 2023 | $22.21 | $23.47 | $23.53 | 2,080 |
| 2024 | $22.60 | $23.19 | $24.52 | 2,280 |
| 2025 | $23.46 | $23.46 | $25.84 | 2,100 |
In today's dollars, the median welder wage in West Virginia changed by -8.4% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in West Virginia?
Keep comparing
Welder pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in West Virginia
Questions this page answers
How much do welders make in West Virginia?
The median welder in West Virginia earned $23.46 an hour ($48,810 a year) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $25.84. The middle half earn $19.18–$28.93; the top 10% earn more than $35.47.
Where does West Virginia rank for welder pay?
West Virginia ranks 47th of 51 states for welder pay, with a median of $23.46 an hour, and 38th after adjusting for West Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.5, US = 100).
What is the union welder rate in West Virginia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a welder classification for most West Virginia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many welders work in West Virginia?
BLS counted 2,100 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in West Virginia in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.12; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, West Virginia 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.